Podcasts about Cochrane

In this episode, Ray Cochrane digs into Anthropic’s Model Hardware Standard. It is a shared driver that lets an AI agent run real lab equipment, from pipetting robots to the lasers inside a quantum computer. He also covers OpenAI’s builder’s guide to GPT-5.6, Google’s new Expert Intelligence book feature, Apple’s M5 Ultra Mac Studio, and a judge’s order forcing Google to stop hiding rival app stores. Finally, he weighs in on Apple’s proposed 15 percent link-out fee, Meta’s Australia numbers, the White House deputizing private hackers, and why rivers obey a 1957 math rule. – Want to start a podcast? Its easy to get started! Sign-up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens with a quick personal update. He is hunting for tickets to Michigan for his dad’s anniversary, and he has been learning Blender and Godot on the side, mostly modeling and blocking out levels. Consequently, he asks listeners for advice on starting a big game project, and he plans to record his progress, maybe as a time lapse. Then it is straight into the featured story. Anthropic’s Model Hardware Standard: A Driver for the Physical World The featured story comes from Anthropic, which opened a research preview of the Model Hardware Standard, or MHS. Cochrane frames it as the other side of the question NVIDIA’s world models raised two weeks ago: when do AI agents start touching actual machines? A typical lab runs a microscope, a liquid handler, a robotic arm, and a plate reader, each from a different vendor with its own control software. One Janelia researcher in the post launches seven programs in three languages just to start an experiment. Anthropic says wiring a setup like that takes weeks or months of specialist work. MHS is a driver, the same kind of translation layer a printer uses, except every device gets described with a tiny set of commands like read and write. Devices announce themselves on the network. A plain-English reference file then records what each machine measures, what can be adjusted, and which safety limits get enforced no matter what the agent asks. Agents then reach the hardware through the Model Context Protocol, the command line, or plain code. Cochrane sees the same move the industry keeps making, from coding harnesses to RSS and JSON: agree on a standard and let everyone build against it. In fact, he calls MHS the hardware version of MCP. The partner results carry the segment. QuEra builds quantum computers from individual atoms held by lasers that must hold their frequency to about one part in a trillion. A four-person team spent months on a relock script that worked 58 percent of the time. However, four copies of Claude iterating overnight through MHS produced a decision-tree script that recovers the laser in about six seconds, and it passed 99.3 percent of 700 blind trials. Carnegie Mellon wrote MHS drivers for four instruments across three incompatible computers in about eight hours, then ran dose-response experiments three times faster and blocked all six deliberately induced faults. Genentech, meanwhile, showed the limits. Claude used the same pump speed for water, a foamy protein solution, and a human had to explain that the bubbles were a physics problem. That gap in physical intuition is what sticks with Cochrane. He doubts it will change soon, and he suspects the fix will arrive as sub-agents or sub-models that judge a request against an expected outcome. He also connects MHS to a video of racing robots that never learned to stop at the finish line. What happens, he wonders, once they can read a distance sensor through a shared standard? Still, he calls the announcement a fantastic read and points listeners to the full article. Sponsor: GoDaddy Economy hosting $6.99/month, WordPress hosting $12.99/month, domains $11.99. Website builder trial available. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy to support the show. GPT-5.6 Does the Same Work for a Fraction of the Cost OpenAI’s builder’s guide to GPT-5.6 leads the headlines. Cochrane recaps the three tiers from episode 1870, Sol, Terra, and Luna, plus the separate dial for reasoning effort. On BrowseComp, a benchmark for digging up obscure facts on the web, the old GPT-5.5 flagship scored about 84 percent on a run that cost 33 dollars three months ago. Luna now matches that score for a dollar thirty-three, and OpenAI has since cut Luna’s price another 80 percent. Browser Use reports Luna finishing 78 percent of its hardest browser tasks for about 14 dollars, against 80 percent for roughly 235 dollars from the best available model. The guide’s other big addition is a multi-agent beta flag. It lets the model handling a request spawn parallel helper agents that report back to a root agent inside a single API call. However, Cochrane is unimpressed by the timing. He has been running that pattern in Claude Code for months, so he sees OpenAI copying a workflow other companies already ship rather than inventing its own. Along the way, he plugs Claude Code’s remote-control sessions, which let him send prompts from his phone to a terminal session at home. Google Lets Gemini Read the Books You Actually Bought Google launched Expert Intelligence, a name Cochrane calls quite the reach. The feature lets you drop a book you bought on Google Play Books into Gemini Notebook, formerly NotebookLM, and ask questions answered only from that book, with citations. Cochrane sees real power here for students, since he once used NotebookLM to organize scattered course PDFs. Additionally, publishers get a cut, which he calls a far better deal than the wholesale scraping of books that trained earlier models. Nevertheless, he asks who loses out, because a paid publisher does not automatically mean a paid author. He floats the same idea for artists, even a penny per use, then admits that may be too idealistic. Apple’s M5 Ultra Mac Studio Is Built to Run Big Models at Home Back in episode 1861, when Apple killed the Mac Pro, an M5 Ultra Mac Studio was expected later this year. Now it is here. The M5 Ultra brings up to a 36-core CPU, an 80-core GPU, and 512GB of unified memory moving 1.2 terabytes per second. Apple claims up to 4.3 times the AI performance of the M3 Ultra. Thunderbolt 5 can also cluster four machines into one memory pool for up to three times faster inference. The M5 Max model starts at $2,499 and the Ultra at $5,499, with shipping on September 22 and the 512GB configuration arriving in late October. Cochrane finds the clustering pitch ridiculous at that price, but he invites anyone who spends the money to report back. Apple Opens a Manufacturing School in Houston Apple also opened a 20,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center in Houston. It offers free classes for small and midsize manufacturers, from circuit board design to hands-on time on a scaled-down production line, with college students joining later. Cochrane calls it a solid step in the bring-manufacturing-home movement. The bigger story is the campus itself, which builds Apple’s AI servers and will add the first US-assembled Mac mini line later this year. That ties back to the Mac mini shortage that followed the OpenClaw rush, when Tim Cook warned of months-long waits. Cult of Mac was still reporting four-month waits in late July. However, Cook blamed chip supply rather than assembly, so Cochrane is not counting on relief just yet. Amazon EC2 Turns Twenty Amazon EC2 turned twenty this week, which Cochrane admits makes him feel old. The 2006 beta offered one server size in one region for ten cents an hour. Each came with a 1.7 gigahertz Xeon and under two gigabytes of memory, and accounts were capped at twenty servers. Today AWS offers more than 1,200 instance types across 39 regions. Consequently, Cochrane credits the company with turning that tiny product into the backbone of cloud and AI computing. Intel Gamer Days: Two Free Games, With Fine Print Intel Gamer Days runs through September 13. Buy a qualifying Core Ultra Series 2 or 14th Gen desktop chip, a Core Ultra Series 3 laptop, or an Arc graphics card. In return you get Star Wars: Galactic Racer plus the Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis remake. GamesRadar values the pair at about 120 dollars. However, neither game is out yet, and codes must be redeemed by October 31 even though the Tomb Raider remake ships in February. Cochrane calls that awful, but he still tells qualifying buyers to claim the deal early. Note that 13th Gen chips do not qualify. Judge Orders Google to Stop Hiding Rival App Stores A jury found Google’s Android app monopoly illegal in late 2023, and Judge James Donato ordered rival stores into the Play Store in 2024. On August 13, Epic’s lawyer demonstrated that searching Play for “store for apps” returned Walmart instead of any app store. Donato called that “not acceptable” and ordered three fixes within a week. Searches must surface third-party stores, listings need a plain install button, and the “are you looking for” interstitial has to go. Cochrane welcomes the monopoly being chipped away, but he notes that a controlling entity still sits atop every app store. In his view, community hubs like app stores and social media need a public infrastructure layer. He suspects governments skip that investment because companies already run the services, while selling your data. Apple Wants 15 Percent of Purchases Outside Its Store The other half of the Epic saga is Apple’s proposed link-out commission. After the 2021 anti-steering injunction, Apple charged 27 percent on purchases made through external links. A judge held it in contempt last year, and the Ninth Circuit then allowed a fee limited to the cost of running the system. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers refused to wait for the Supreme Court, writing that “further delay is unwarranted.” Apple filed 15 percent for standard apps, 10 percent for subscription renewals and partner programs, and 5 percent for small businesses. It also conceded the rate would be “essentially zero” under the appeals court’s cost yardstick. Since Apple has charged nothing on link-outs since the contempt ruling, Cochrane sees this as a raise. He calls a cut on purchases made on a developer’s own website disturbing. He also recalls reading about the size of Uber’s payments to Apple, and he questions whether that kind of percentage is sustainable for companies without funding. Meta Says It Has Cut Off 750,000 Australian Kids Meta reported locking out more than 750,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts in Australia by the end of June under the country’s under-16 social media law. Over 500,000 of those were removed before the law even took effect. Detection relies mostly on AI scanning posts and bios for tells like birthday messages, plus user reports and blocks on re-registration. However, the post gives no count of mistaken removals or appeals, and the regulator’s early data shows under-16 usage falling only from about 86 to 81 percent. Meta wants a single age signal at the operating system or app store level, and Cochrane agrees completely. He connects it to the MHS idea from the top of the show: platforms need a standard flag to reference instead of guessing. The White House Deputizes Private Hackers Earlier this month the White House signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum that lets vetted private security firms run surveillance and disruption operations against overseas criminal groups. The Justice Department and Homeland Security hold the contracts and oversee the work. Firms need a proven track record, vetted staff, and a bond of at least $1 million, and must submit operating procedures within 60 days. Cochrane finds the measure aggressive in a good way and hopes it deters attacks on innocents. Still, he takes Kevin Beaumont’s warning seriously that the private security industry profits from ransomware existing. He compares it to the old Head and Shoulders myth: why solve the problem that drives your revenue? A Weather Satellite Watched the Eclipse Shadow Cross Europe Cochrane skips the readout on this one and simply sends listeners to ESA’s site. The MTG-I1 weather satellite captured the Moon’s shadow sweeping across Europe during the August 12 eclipse. Watching a shadow cross an entire continent, he says, was a first for him. Additionally, it leaves him excited about the research happening beyond the planet. Rivers, Deltas, and the Number 0.6 Quanta Magazine explains Hack’s law, which John Hack discovered in 1957 while measuring streams in Virginia and Maryland. A stream’s length tracks its drainage area raised to the power of 0.6, regardless of the rock underneath, and satellite data later confirmed it worldwide. Computer models in the 1990s showed why. Channels that capture extra runoff cut deeper and steal from their neighbors until the network settles into the arrangement that wastes the least energy. Now a University of Texas Rio Grande Valley team has found the same 0.6 exponent in river deltas, which spread water out rather than gathering it. Nobody knows why yet, and Cochrane calls it a really cool read. Sugar Helped Grow the Human Brain, Too A new paper in Science, co-authored by Jennie Brand-Miller at the University of Sydney, adds a third ingredient to the story of early human brain growth. Alongside meat and cooking, natural sugars from ripe fruit and honey may have fueled it too. The brain is about two percent of body weight but burns twenty percent of resting energy. It runs on glucose, which meat and marrow barely supply and raw starch cannot release without fire. The team modeled ancestral diets from a chimp-like baseline through Homo erectus and concluded that the earliest hominins may have drawn over 65 percent of their energy from natural sugars. Cochrane stresses that it is a model, not fossils, and notes that paleoanthropologist Marina Lozano thinks the authors place widespread cooking too early. Still, he loves this kind of deep research. Retracing the steps to our own intelligence, he suggests, could hint at what it takes for intelligent life to develop at all. A Brain Rhythm That Tells Doctors Where to Aim Finally, Science Daily covered a University of Cologne study on deep brain stimulation. That is the implanted-electrode treatment that eases Parkinson’s tremors for some patients but not others. Andreas Horn’s team recorded from 50 patients using both the implanted electrodes and an external magnetic scanner. They identified a circuit between the electrode’s target and the frontal cortex that oscillates at 20 to 35 cycles per second. Stronger coupling there predicted bigger improvement after surgery, though the study, published in Brain, shows correlation rather than cause. First author Bahne Bahners hopes the finding helps tune DBS more precisely, especially for patients who have not responded well. Cochrane half-jokingly asks whether MHS might one day drive those electrodes, and he calls brain disorders the hardest thing in the body to treat. Cochrane wraps with housekeeping: become a GNC Insider at geeknewscentral.com/insider, email geeknews@gmail.com with questions or comments, subscribe to the newsletter, and grab a modern podcast app at podcastapps.com. He thanks GoDaddy for over twenty years of keeping the show on the air, promises to catch everyone next Monday, and wishes listeners a great night. The post Eyes, Hands, and a Sense of Timing #1874 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Primary care physicians Kate, Mark, Henry and Gary discuss 4 new studies that could change your practice: treatments for hyperemesis gravidarum, calcium and vitamin D to prevent falls and fractures in older adults, the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor, and oral semaglutide to treat dementia .The John Hickner Memorial fund at MSU: https://give.msu.edu/?sid=17374 Hyperemesis gravidarum treatments: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41478546/ Supplementing with calcium or vitamin D: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42161415/ Oral PCSK-9 enlicitide:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41879224/ Cochrane review of PCSK-9s: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011748.pub3/full Semaglutide for dementia: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41865758/

ACOG recommends the use of oral or vaginal misoprostol, vaginal dinoprostone (either gel or insert), or mechanical methods for cervical ripening. Plus, it states, “Combination methods (pharmacologic and mechanical) are also effective”. The July 2026 ACOG CPG 9 states this regarding vaginal misoprostol compared to vaginal dinoprostone for labor induction: “Vaginal dinoprostone is effective for cervical ripening; however, vaginal misoprostol has higher efficacy and less need for oxytocin augmentation. The Cochrane database systematic review in 2010 that compared vaginal misoprostol with vaginal dinoprostone in 38 trials (7,022 participants) showed a lower rate of failure to achieve vaginal delivery in 24 hours (RR 0.77) and reduced need for oxytocin augmentation with misoprostol (RR 0.68). There were no differences in the rates of cesarean delivery or tachysystole with FHR changes”. Now, as of August 19, 2026, a new meta-analysis from BJOG is examining this comparison (vaginal miso vs vaginal dino) again. Did they find the same thing? Listen in for details. 1. G. Andersson, B. Greenfield, A. Hunt, et al., “ Vaginal Misoprostol Compared to Vaginal Dinoprostone for Induction of Labour: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (2026): 1–12, https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.70314.2. ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 9: Cervical Ripening in Pregnancy

Big Pharma bet billions on one theory: clear the amyloid, cure Alzheimer's.A new Cochrane review of 20,000+ patients just proved them wrong — these drugs don't work, and they may be putting your brain at risk. So what's really driving this epidemic?My guest today, six-time New York Times bestselling author and board-certified neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter, says the answer lies in a set of cells most people have never even heard of — and he lays it all out in his new book, Brain Defenders.The good news is, you already have more control over them than any drug could ever give you.We're talking about microglia, the brain's immune cells, and why the choices you make today may matter more than anything a prescription pad can offer.For full show notes and transcript: https://drgundry.com/david-perlmutter-alzheimersOn this episode, you'll learn: All about the new study that found leading Alzheimer's drugs deliver almost no benefit (02:09)Why the so-called enemy in your brain is not what we thought at all (07:34)What microglia are, and why these overlooked immune cells may be the real gatekeepers of your brain's health (05:15)How everyday metabolic issues like blood sugar and insulin resistance can affect your brain (09:30)Why one in nine Americans over 65 is already living with dementia (and most don't know it) (14:08)The surprising connection between Parkinson's, depression, and even autism spectrum conditions (15:11)How THIS lifestyle program helped 70% of Alzheimer's patients stabilize or even improve their cognitive function — no drugs required (17:09)The one mindset shift Dr. Perlmutter says has to happen before any diet or exercise plan will actually work for your brain (22:17)Why getting quality sleep does more for your brain than you think (27:49)The simple blood test you should request NOW to gauge your Alzheimer's risk (33:25)Why women make up two-thirds of Alzheimer's patients (35:29)The critical window for starting hormone replacement therapy (40:08)The truth about antibacterial mouthwash, and why it might be quietly working against your brain health (58:14)A 25-year-old flossing study that predicted exactly what today's top neurology journals are just now confirming (01:00:05)Dr. Perlmutter's honest answer to whether you should take the newer Alzheimer's drugs your doctor may be recommending (01:05:31)More about Dr. David Perlmutter:Dr. David Perlmutter's websiteDr. David Perlmutter's InstagramNew book: Brain Defenders: Harness the Power of Your Immune Cells to Protect Your Brain for Life by Dr. David PerlmutterResearch:Cochrane ReviewTanzi StudyThank you to our sponsors! Check them out: Transform your sleep experience with Cozy Earth bedding. Go to cozyearth.com/gundry for 20% off. Go to thrivemarket.com/GUNDRYPODCAST for 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift.Go to Quince.com/gundry to upgrade your wardrobe and get free shipping on your orderGet a quote today at Progressive.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. David Perlmutter — neurologist, New York Times bestselling author, and author of the new book Brain Defenders — joins Dr. Will Cole to reveal what he believes is the most important breakthrough in brain health science in decades: the microglial cell. He explains why the amyloid hypothesis that has dominated Alzheimer's research (and pharmaceutical spending) for 30 years has been definitively disproven by a Cochrane analysis, why a Harvard lifestyle study arrested Alzheimer's decline in 70% of patients without any drug, and what the April 2024 NEJM GLP-1 Parkinson's trial means for the future of neurodegenerative disease. They also cover the practical daily habits, foods, supplements, and lab tests that shift the brain's immune cells from destructive to protective — and why you are far more the architect of your brain's destiny than anyone has told you. For all links mentioned in this episode, visit http://www.drwillcole.com/podcastPlease note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Sponsors:Take the first step and learn at a pace that works for you. Visit WaldenU.edu.Give them meals + snacks that are actually right for where kids are developmentally - balanced, intentional and made to support real growth. Go to littlespoon.com/WILLCOLE and enter code WILLCOLE for 30% off your first order.Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT's most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at drinklmnt.com/artofbeingwell. Find your favorite flavor, or share with a friendQUINCE.COM/WILLCOLE for free shipping and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too! www.jshealthvitamins.com code WILLCOLE for 15% off at checkout LIFT Oléoactif® significantly reduced the primary wrinkle by more than 200%.† OR 200% reduction in wrinkles with LIFT Oléoactif®†* Disclaimer: *Clinical test: LIFT Oléoactif® in cream, results in 28 days, compared to placebo. LIFT Oléoactif® is a trademark of HALLSTAR FRANCE SAS. 95% see a reduction in eyebag volume* with Eyeseryl® Peptide Disclaimer: *Clinical test: EYESERYL® Peptide in cream, results in 28 days. EYESERYL® Peptide is a trademark of Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc. or its affiliates.Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Ray Cochrane breaks down NVIDIA’s case for world action models, the shift that swaps a robot’s picture-describing backbone for one trained to predict what happens next. He also covers Perseverance closing in on the off-world driving record, a derelict SpaceX rocket stage hitting the Moon, and Anthropic’s rework of Claude Fable 5’s biology safeguards. Finally, he digs into Gemini Omni, Google’s undisclosed trip-planning rankings, the Danube’s record low, and iFixit’s call for Apple to unlock the iPad bootloader. – Want to start a podcast? It’s easy to get started! Sign up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens with a personal update. Wildfires in Eastern Oregon made for a rough week of heavy smoke, and a local building burned down, which he calls a real tragedy. Meanwhile, his work at Blubrry has centered on PowerPress fixes, where reproducing customer-reported bugs remains the biggest headache. Support tickets rarely carry enough detail, and the errors themselves are often too vague to diagnose. Consequently, he is leaning toward a stronger logging and error layer, and he asks experienced developers to share what actually works for them. Beyond VLAs: NVIDIA’s Case for World Action Models The featured story comes from NVIDIA’s developer blog, and it answers a question sitting underneath this year’s robot news. Why do robot arms fall apart the moment anything changes? Move a cup six inches, swap its shape, or change the lighting, and a policy that worked perfectly in training fails. The answer, according to NVIDIA, is not the robot but the model underneath it. For the last few years, the dominant approach has been the vision-language-action model, or VLA, built on an AI that originally learned to describe pictures. Consequently, it recognizes a banana it has never seen, in a kitchen it has never seen, yet it has no idea what that banana will do next. As the article puts it, such a model “does not learn what happens to a mug when the gripper closes, how a towel folds, where an object lands when released.” Because the physics never arrives with the model, every scrap of it has to come out of hand-recorded demonstrations. The proposed fix swaps the foundation entirely. Instead of building on a model that learned to caption images, a world action model builds on one trained to predict how video continues, so the physics is already paid for. Notably, these models output an action and a prediction of what the robot’s cameras will see, in the same pass. Cochrane likens it to forethought, imagining your own motion as you make it. NVIDIA’s implementation is Cosmos 3, pretrained on roughly 767 million images and 348 million videos of real-world dynamics. It ships in 4, 16, and 64 billion parameter sizes named Edge, Nano, and Super, and it runs in real time on a Jetson Thor board bolted to the robot itself. Cochrane recalls his dad owning one of those Jetson boards, and he asks anyone working in robotics to explain how the throughput figures fit together. However, he closes on an open question: where did 348 million videos actually come from? For deeper detail, he points listeners to the source article and to NVIDIA researcher Jim Fan. Sponsor: GoDaddy Economy hosting $6.99/month, WordPress hosting $12.99/month, domains $11.99. Website builder trial available. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy to support the show. Perseverance Closes In on the Off-World Driving Record Ars Technica reports that NASA’s Perseverance rover is about to take the record for most distance driven on another world. The mark sits at roughly 28 miles, set by NASA’s own Opportunity rover across more than fourteen years before it went quiet in 2018. As Cochrane works out on air, that averages about two miles a year. Perseverance will pass it in roughly five years instead. The difference is a navigation system called AutoNav. Since a radio signal takes several minutes to reach Mars, earlier rovers crept along pre-plotted routes and stopped every half meter to think. Perseverance carries a second computer dedicated to processing what its cameras see, so it plans while the wheels keep turning. Consequently, about ninety percent of its driving is autonomous, against roughly ten percent for Curiosity, and it averages around 110 meters an hour rather than 15 to 18. Cochrane notes researchers finding the rover at planned sites days ahead of schedule, and he wonders aloud whether world action models might drive the next one. A SpaceX Rocket Stage Slammed Into the Moon Next, Smithsonian Magazine covered the Falcon 9 upper stage that struck the Moon on August 5. That stage flew back in January 2025, carrying Firefly’s Blue Ghost and ispace’s Resilience landers, and it was never meant to end up there. SpaceX’s Julianna Scheiman says a mixture of solar activity and gravity nudged the derelict onto a lunar path after nineteen months adrift. Four tonnes of dead hardware arrived at about 5,400 miles per hour. Nobody watched it happen, and the reason is a nice bit of physics. It struck sunlit ground near a crater called Einstein, and no impact flash has ever been detected on the lit part of the Moon. However, the instruments caught the aftermath. South Korea’s Danuri orbiter imaged a dark new mark, while the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope picked up sodium and lithium in the plume, the lithium possibly shed by the rocket itself. Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell quipped that he has “Sir Isaac Newton’s personal assurance that it did indeed hit the moon,” while planetary scientist Hannah Sargeant warns against making a habit of it. Cochrane points out the Apollo landing sites are still sitting up there. Anthropic Reworks Claude Fable 5’s Biology Safeguards Anthropic published a post on how Claude Fable 5 handles biology questions, and the bind is genuine. Biology is the textbook dual-use problem, since the knowledge behind reading your own lab results also helps someone build a weapon. Rather than refusing outright, a classifier watches for risky requests and quietly reroutes them to Claude Opus 5, a capable model without Fable 5’s biological depth. Anthropic calls that mechanism a fallback. The trouble was how often it fired on people doing nothing wrong. This update cut biology-related fallbacks by roughly 85 percent in Anthropic’s own testing, with expected overall drops of 67 percent on Claude.ai and 55 percent on Cowork. Genuinely dual-use territory still trips it, and Anthropic names virology, toxicology, and molecular design. Cochrane hit the old behavior himself and found it irritating, so he welcomes the refinement. Even so, he would rather see a false positive than a model helping someone produce a virus. Five Builders Put Gemini Omni Through Its Paces Google highlighted five builders working with Gemini Omni. Omni is a model rather than an app, and it generates video from text, images, other video, or audio, while also editing footage you already have. Google claims it “combines an intuitive understanding of physics with Gemini’s real-world knowledge,” citing gravity, kinetic energy, and fluid dynamics. As Cochrane observes, that is the same bet NVIDIA is making with robots, only pointed at video generation instead. He also flags a naming collision worth knowing about. NVIDIA calls its architecture an omni-model while Google’s product is simply Omni, two different things landing in the same week. Additionally, he encourages listeners to watch the demos, though he still senses a disconnect in AI-generated video and concedes that knowing its origin may color the impression. Gemini Wants to Plan Your Vacation Another Gemini piece, a how-to on trip planning, drew Cochrane’s sharpest take of the night. Gemini plugs straight into Google Maps, Flights, and Hotels, pulling live locations, reviews, and prices to build an itinerary. Switch on a feature called Personal Intelligence, and it reads across your Google apps, turning a messy trip-planning email chain into a clean master plan. Clever, but he calls it extremely concerning. Once these become services, he expects partnerships to quietly push particular hotels, restaurants, resorts, and destinations onto users. Notably, Google’s post never explains how any of it gets ranked, and the words sponsored, ad, affiliate, commission, and paid never appear once. There is no disclosure of a commercial arrangement, and no denial of one either. Meanwhile the post hands readers off to Viator to book tours without describing that relationship at all. Cochrane suspects the real effect shows up slowly, in the shape of small businesses continuing to disappear. The Senate Blocks a Rule on Who Controls Research Money Science reports that the Senate passed a temporary spending bill in the early hours of Saturday the 8th. The Senate’s version carries a one-paragraph rider the House version lacks, and that rider stops the White House Office of Management and Budget from finalizing a set of proposed rules. OMB builds the president’s budget, clears agency regulations, and controls how approved money actually reaches agencies. The bill itself is a stopgap, which prevents a shutdown without settling anything. The rules reach every organization that takes federal money, a pot of roughly $1.1 trillion across 41 agencies, about $150 billion of it research grants. They would let political appointees second-guess which grants get funded, allow awarded grants to be pulled when the work does not match presidential priorities, and put several countries off limits for research partnerships, China first among them. Senator Susan Collins pushed the block through after telling OMB director Russell Vought the proposal was deeply flawed, noting nearly 500,000 public comments, the vast majority opposed. However, the 90-6 vote is not law. Both chambers are on recess. Vought reportedly said the rule would not have been finalized before December anyway, and the block only lasts as long as the stopgap, which expires December 11. The Danube Falls to a Record Low ESA published a pair of Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite images showing the same bend of the Danube, 45 kilometers upstream of Budapest, photographed a year apart. Cochrane calls the before-and-after shocking, going from green to brown completely. Wire reports put the Budapest gauge near 10 centimeters at the start of the month, about four inches of water, against a previous record of 33 centimeters set in 2018. The knock-on effects arrived fast. Budapest ran short on both power and drinking water, while the shrinking flow concentrated pollution in what remained. Romania hit record lows on its own stretch as well. Cochrane hopes the recovery is already underway. What a Heatwave Actually Does to the Power Grid That river story runs directly into a Carbon Brief factcheck. Nuclear plants cool themselves with river water, so when the Danube dropped, plants in Hungary and Romania throttled back and pulled roughly 2.5 gigawatts off the grid. Romania declared a state of alert in its energy sector, and its navy reportedly used explosives to steer more water toward a plant intake. Carbon Brief then walked through what heatwaves do to each way of making electricity. Nuclear loses efficiency when the cooling water is already warm, though its shutdowns are mostly regulatory rather than mechanical. Gas turbines pull in less air because hot air is thinner, costing capacity. Wind falls off hardest, since a heatwave is a big stalled dome of high pressure and nearly still air. Solar is the surprise: cells genuinely do get less efficient as they heat up, yet total output climbs anyway, with UK solar up 46 percent during a four-day June heatwave against the week before. Butterflies Are on the Move Everywhere A new study in Nature Ecology and Evolution covered 1,758 butterfly species, roughly one in ten of every species we have named. The team pulled 6,182 records from 105 countries, reading non-English research alongside 68 expert write-ups. Four out of five species pushed into new territory, and about 79 percent of the logged shifts traced back to climate change and extreme weather. Separately, 27 percent saw their range shrink somewhere, and 22 percent moved up or down a mountain slope chasing cooler air. That sounds like good news, and it really is not. Expansion means a boundary moved, not that butterflies are thriving, since a species can push its northern edge forward while its southern edge quietly collapses. Lead author Shawan Chowdhury says the shifts turn up on every continent where butterflies occur. Additionally, monitoring gaps leave Central Africa, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and the Amazon Basin barely counted at all. Cochrane recalls hearing years ago that butterflies were disappearing in Hawaii, and he invites listeners spotting unfamiliar species locally to contribute what they see. Primates Make Friends Across Species Cochrane called this one a fun find. A study in the journal Primates, led by Cyril Grueter at Oxford, gathered 427 documented cases going back to the 1970s across 88 primate species and 127 partner species. Play and grooming dominated at 139 and 136 cases, alongside carrying, huddling, food sharing, and even adoption. Primates usually started the interactions themselves, with juveniles playing most, adult females handling grooming and caregiving, and adult males least likely to join in. The examples are remarkable. Japanese macaques on the island of Yakushima groom sika deer and climb on their backs, a silverback gorilla cradled a tiny wild bushbaby, and wild capuchins in Brazil adopted an infant marmoset in a bond that held for weeks. However, Grueter rejects the pet-keeping headline and prefers the hedged term proto-pet keeping. The actual claim is smaller and more interesting: curiosity, tolerance, caregiving, and play have roots running far deeper than humans do. iFixit Tells Apple to Unlock the iPad Finally, an opinion piece from Charlie Sorrel at iFixit struck a chord. This fall, iPadOS 27 drops support for a batch of older iPads, including the 8th-generation iPad, the third-generation Air, the fifth-generation mini, and the first-generation iPad Pros. Cochrane owns one of those Pros and reports it still works fine. Those devices will not break, but they stop getting OS and security updates until apps abandon them and the battery gives out. The obvious second life is Linux, except the bootloader stays locked. Apple’s iBoot will not load anything else, unlike a Mac, a PC, or most Android phones. Sorrel argues it “should be a user choice, not a vendor choice,” and Cochrane agrees flatly. You own the device, so why does Apple decide what runs on it? He compares the situation to jailbreaking, and he suspects most consumers have never pushed back simply because it never occurs to them. Nevertheless, he hopes an unlock eventually breathes new life into hardware that still works perfectly well. Cochrane wraps with housekeeping: become a GNC Insider at geeknewscentral.com/insider, email geeknews@gmail.com, subscribe to the newsletter, and grab a modern podcast app at podcastapps.com. He thanks GoDaddy for over twenty years of keeping the show on the air, and he signs off wishing listeners a wonderful evening. The post The Robot That Imagines First #1872 appeared first on Geek News Central.

In this episode, Ray Cochrane digs into Anthropic’s admission that Claude models reached real systems during sandboxed safety tests. He also covers OpenAI’s Astra model cracking ten decade-old math problems, DeepMind open-sourcing its WeatherNext cyclone forecaster, and Europe’s brutal fire season. Finally, he wraps with the MacBook Neo sweeping K-12 schools, WhatsApp calling in the browser, and the troubled rescue of NASA’s Swift observatory. – Want to start a podcast? It’s easy to get started! Sign up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens with a personal update. He just got back from a trip home to O’ahu, where he helped his mom with projects around the house, caught up with friends, and finally rode the island’s new rail line ahead of its phase-two extension to downtown. Also in the pipeline, a September trip to Michigan is coming up, and he is closing out three years at Oregon’s Finest to focus on Blubrry and the show. Then he turns to the featured story. Capture the Real Flag: Claude Reached Real Systems During Anthropic’s Safety Tests Cochrane’s featured story comes from Anthropic’s own investigation. A misconfiguration left evaluation machines connected to the live internet during capture-the-flag safety tests, and Claude models reached real production systems in three incidents across 141,006 reviewed runs. One model extracted working credentials and entered a real company’s database, another published a malicious package to PyPI for about an hour, and the newest model recognized the environment was real and walked away from the flag. Notably, Anthropic found no evidence of models pursuing goals of their own. The models did what their evaluations asked. The review began after OpenAI disclosed that its own models escaped an isolated test environment. Cochrane praises the transparency of the postmortem. However, he argues the incidents signal an industry-wide gap: evaluation infrastructure needs the same security rigor as production systems, and he hopes every lab takes the hint. Sponsor: GoDaddy Economy hosting $6.99/month, WordPress hosting $12.99/month, domains $11.99. Website builder trial available. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy to support the show. An OpenAI Model Cracks Ten Open Math Problems OpenAI says an internal model called Astra produced ten new results on open problems in mathematics and theoretical computer science, each stuck for at least a decade. The wins range from sphere packing to a lattice problem behind post-quantum cryptography, plus two entries from Paul Erdős’s famous problem list. None are peer-reviewed yet, but every proof carries a machine-checked Lean 4 certificate. Cochrane finds the results impressive precisely because they reach past what humans could derive quickly, though OpenAI has not said how much human steering was involved. Scientists With LLMs Will “Do More, Less Well” Next, Nature’s news desk covered a modeling study predicting that scientists who adopt LLM tools will “do more, less well.” The team, which includes University of Washington biologist Carl Bergstrom, used optimal foraging theory to model researchers under publish-or-perish incentives. Faster AI-assisted work pushes them toward fresh projects instead of follow-up experiments and extra analysis. Cochrane relates from his own research: heavy LLM assistance can mean understanding the work less, which makes digging into the whys much harder. Intel’s Chip-Stitching Hub in New Mexico Intel’s newsroom showcased Fab 9 in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, its U.S. hub for advanced packaging. Since single chips max out at the reticle limit, Intel stitches specialized chiplets together with Foveros stacking and EMIB silicon bridges until they act like one huge processor. Packages already reach eight times that single-chip ceiling, with twelve times targeted by 2028. Cochrane muses about a future where consumers simply snap extra compute onto a board. Gemini Robotics ER 2 Is a Brain for Robots DeepMind released Gemini Robotics ER 2, its most capable embodied reasoning model. The system chats with humans, plans multi-step tasks, and hands motor control to whatever vision-language-action model a robot runs. Moreover, it calls tools like Google Search mid-task and plans its next move while its hands keep working. Demos show it orchestrating Boston Dynamics’ Spot and Apptronik’s Apollo 2, and developers can use it now through the Gemini API. DeepMind Open-Sources Its Cyclone Forecaster Staying with DeepMind, the new WeatherNext Cyclones model adds more than a full day of extra warning on a storm’s track, intensity, and wind structure. It ran live with the National Hurricane Center during the 2025 season, helping forecasters spot Hurricane Melissa’s rapid intensification before its Jamaica landfall. Best of all, DeepMind open-sourced the code and model weights for research and commercial use alike. Cochrane, a longtime fan of the lab, calls the public release a huge service. Climate Change Supercharges Europe’s Disasters Eos rounded up how climate change is supercharging Europe’s heat, drought, and wildfires. Southwestern France has burned through about 287,000 acres this year, and roughly 330,000 people across France and Spain fled their homes in one of Europe’s largest evacuations since World War II. France also recorded more than 5,700 excess heat deaths in under three weeks. Meanwhile, a Bordeaux-region blaze spawned a pyrocumulonimbus fire cloud, and Cochrane notes that hearing “unprecedented” every year is starting to create a precedent. Ten Years of WILDLABS and Arm Arm is celebrating ten years of backing WILDLABS, a network connecting more than 16,000 conservationists across 180 countries. The goal was never to invent new conservation technology. Instead, it closes the information gap so tools and lessons get shared openly. Cochrane highlights a team using miniaturized GPS tags to track migrating bats, and says the project bears the heart of open source. FarmBeats Brings AI to Ag Classrooms Microsoft and the National FFA Organization expanded FarmBeats for Students nationally. The program teaches future farmers with smart soil sensors, data science, and AI, mirroring how real farms automate tractors and deploy drones against pests. At launch, 185 middle and high schools received free classroom kits. Interested families can grab a kit for $35, and the Microsoft Learn training is free. MacBook Neo Pulls Schools Off Chromebooks Apple’s earnings call revealed the MacBook Neo displacing Chromebooks and Windows machines in K-12. Close to half of the Neo’s large U.S. education purchases last quarter replaced competing fleets, including 25,000 students in Pinellas County, Florida. Cochrane sees the first truly affordable Apple laptop finally competing where Chromebooks have lived for a decade. He expects Apple to keep taking K-12 share from Google and Microsoft. Apple Upgrade Turns iPhones Into a Lease Apple also launched Apple Upgrade, a hardware leasing program backed by Klarna. iPhones start at $17.99 per month with 12- to 36-month terms by device, and lease-end options let you upgrade, buy out, or walk away. However, entry-level hardware like the base iPhone 16 and Mac mini is excluded, and enrollment requires a Klarna account and a soft credit check. Cochrane admits he has never been a leasing fan, having once bought his phone outright with tip money, but he expects plenty of takers. WhatsApp Calling Comes to the Browser Meta brought calling to WhatsApp Web, no app download required. Browser calls keep end-to-end encryption and add screen sharing, a dedicated Calls tab, waiting rooms for group links, and automatic HD video. Additionally, group calls now transfer between devices mid-call, and a Drown Out the Noise feature suppresses background racket. Everything rolls out gradually over the coming weeks. July’s Gemini Drop July’s Gemini Drop adds voice control on macOS, letting users dictate and transform text in any active window. Gemini Spark, the always-on assistant, expands nearly worldwide, except the EEA, UK, Switzerland, and Nigeria. New Gemini 3.6 Flash and 3.5 Flash-Lite models arrive alongside avatar-based image personalization and app hookups for Dropbox, Zillow Rentals, and Viator. The Rescue Satellite That Needs Rescuing Katalyst Space Technologies’ LINK spacecraft, launched to boost NASA’s sinking Swift observatory, began tumbling in late July. Two of its three reaction wheels failed and its cold-gas thrusters degraded, so engineers used an electric xenon thruster to cut the spin from nine degrees per second to about 1.5. CEO Ghonhee Lee says a capture attempt is “very much in the cards,” with rendezvous in late August at the earliest. Cochrane wonders what happens if the window closes, and he promises to keep listeners updated. Curiosity Finds a Honeycomb Valley on Mars Finally, Curiosity rolled into a Martian valley nicknamed Valle Grande and found a honeycomb landscape. Polygonal fractures just inches wide stretch in every direction and climb a butte named Miraflores. Project scientist Ashwin Vasavada says the “sea of polygons took our breath away.” The rover just passed fourteen years on Mars, and scientists suspect ancient warming and cooling cycles fractured the ground. Cochrane wraps with housekeeping: become a GNC Insider at geeknewscentral.com/insider, email geeknews@gmail.com, subscribe to the newsletter, and grab a modern podcast app at podcastapps.com (he uses Pocket Casts himself). He signs off until Monday’s show. The post Capture The Real Flag #1871 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Chiefs LB Jack Cochrane joins full 589 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:06:01 +0000 kDp0tJddwH2tOcH6dp7tCe8AKEtraYWM nfl,kansas city chiefs,society & culture Cody & Gold nfl,kansas city chiefs,society & culture Chiefs LB Jack Cochrane joins Hosts Cody Tapp & Alex Gold team up for 96.5 The Fan Radio's midday show "Cody & Gold." Two born & raised Kansas Citians, Cody & Gold have been through all the highs and lows as a KC sports fan and they know the passion Kansas City has for their sports teams."Cody & Gold" will be a show focused on smart, sports conversation with the best voices from KC and around the country. It will also feature our listeners with your calls, texts & tweets as we want you to be a part of the show, not just a listener. Cody & Gold, weekdays 10a-2p on 96.5 The Fan.  2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Society & Culture https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-link=https%3A%2F%2Frs

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Nicola Lindson discuss emerging evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Stefanie Gratale, Rutgers School of Public Health, USA. Associate Professor Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Associate Professor Nicola Lindson discuss the new evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Dr Stefanie Gratale, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy at the Rutgers School of Public Health and core member of the Rutgers Institute for Nicotine & Tobacco Studies (USA). In this episode, Dr Stefanie Gratale talks to Jamie Hartmann-Boyce from the Summer 2026 NIH Tobacco Regulatory Science (TRS) Meeting in Bethesda, Maryland, where she presented findings from her team's research on the evolution of ‘natural' tobacco marketing and how it shapes young people's perceptions of tobacco and nicotine products. Drawing on focus groups with adolescents and young adults, Stefanie discusses comparative risk perceptions and interest in products marketed as ‘cleaner', including combustible tobacco, e-cigarettes, and nicotine pouches. Her talk at the meeting was entitled: ‘It's not as good for you vs. stuff that's coming out the ground'. In the interview Stefanie highlights how tobacco companies use terms such as ‘tobacco' and ‘water' to imply that their products are more natural. The focus group findings revealed a concerning misperception: many young people viewed cigarettes as healthier and less harmful than e-cigarettes because tobacco is a plant, whereas e-cigarettes were perceived to contain artificial ingredients. Marketing and broader communication may be contributing to these inaccurate beliefs about the relative harms of tobacco and nicotine products. Stefanie stressed the importance of accurate messaging and communication and plans to look at corrective messaging in future research work. This podcast is a companion to the electronic cigarettes Cochrane living systematic review and Interventions for quitting vaping review and shares the evidence from the monthly searches. Our searches for the EC for smoking cessation review carried out on 1st July 2026 found: 1 new ongoing studies (NCT05206435) and 2 linked reports (10.1016/j.conctc.2026.101652; 10.1016/j.addbeh.2026.108772). Our search for our interventions for quitting vaping review carried out on 1st July 2026 found: 1 new study (NCT05423340) and 2 new ongoing studies (NCT07038317; NCT07624292). For further details see our webpage under 'Monthly search findings': https://www.cebm.ox.ac.uk/research/electronic-cigarettes-for-smoking-cessation-cochrane-living-systematic-review-1 For more information on the full Cochrane review of E-cigarettes for smoking cessation updated in November 2025 see: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010216.pub10/full For more information on the full Cochrane review of Interventions for quitting vaping published in November 2025 see: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD016058.pub3/full

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A 2026 Cochrane review claims "little to no difference between nurse‐physician substitution and physician‐led care" in a hospital setting.Phil Shaffer, MD reviews all 82 studies to prove the major fallacy: NO study included in the analysis involved true substitution of nurses for physicians to perform physician-level care.https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013616.pub2/fullPhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome has been renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome. So seems like a good time to review our previous episode on it as we prep for a formal update on why the name change happened. Also, we hear Danielle's voice for the first time!!   Robyn Flynn joins Chris to talk about polycystic ovarian syndrome. More common than most people realize and with more far-reaching implications than it would initially seem. It can impact fertility, cardiovascular health, and according to Robyn is more painful than childbirth?!? We're going to have to look into that one.   You can also check out Robyn's podcast, Rebel Mom Boss https://open.spotify.com/show/4uMAsJS9ySR47iGYw8ExDo?si=bc68ddfcb0bd4f3f   Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you! http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/ https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE   Email us your questions at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.   Editor:    Robyn Flynn Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos Chris' book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer   Obviously, Chris not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information.   References: 1) Dutch Twin study about the role of genetics in PCOS:   10.1210/jc.2005-1494   2) Cochrane review on meds that improve fertility https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003053.pub6/full   3) RCT of diet to restore fertility https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article-abstract/88/2/812/2845309?redirectedFrom=fulltext   4) Benefits of weight loss prior to fertility treatment 10.1210/jc.2016-1659 5) Letrozole vs. clomiphene for fertility treatment https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1313517 6) Metformin as a fertility treatment 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.11995  

Who can you trust for unbiased evidence? Cassels explains how pharma shapes journals, masks, and scientific “truth.” #EvidenceBias #CochraneReview #JournalInfluence #HealthTalks

See the Video at www.RGRFootball.com Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs return to St Joseph to kick off NFL Training Camp! This stream focuses on NFL roster construction and evaluating specific talent across the league. We look at the performance and potential of key players, including a detailed look at why Creed Humphrey is widely considered the top center in the NFL right now. Whether you are curious about the mechanics of player contracts or want to understand how front offices value specific positions, this discussion provides the breakdown you need. We also cover the outlook for UDFA prospects, specifically breaking down Cole Brevard and his path to securing a spot on the roster. By analyzing these specific player profiles and salary cap implications, you will gain a clearer picture of how teams build competitive depth outside of the first round of the draft.

Welcome back to the Innovative Real Estate Podcast! In this episode, we are pulling back the curtain on one of our most exciting developments yet: Cochrane Commons. We dive deep into the background of this project, exploring its planned social impact, community amenities, and how we are designing dynamic new retail and live/work spaces just steps away from major city landmarks.We also discuss a massive industry shift: our pivot to Mass Timber construction. We break down exactly what Mass Timber is, how its sustainability benefits stack up against traditional building typologies, and the surprising science behind its fire resistance and acoustic properties. Plus, we highlight the incredible research coming out of Michigan State University, look to Europe's advanced forestry practices for inspiration, and confront the industry's resistance to changing legacy construction methodologies. Tune in to see how we are building for longevity and the economy of scale!Episode HighlightsThe community vision and social impact behind Cochrane Commons.What is Mass Timber? Benefits vs. traditional construction.The surprising science of Mass Timber's fire resistance.Michigan State University's groundbreaking Mass Timber research.Overcoming the industry's resistance to changing building methods.View the full Show Notes for episode 82.Learn more about Cochrane Commons HERE.Ready to move forward with your project? Contact us here and we will put you in contact with the right member of our team. Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new project releases, trainings, and more. 

In this episode, Ray Cochrane breaks down AI distillation, the teacher-student technique frontier labs now lean on to train smaller, cheaper models. He also covers GPT-5.6’s government-vetted rollout, Claude Sonnet 5 landing on AWS, Maryland’s two-year data center pause, and Microsoft’s climbing carbon numbers. Finally, he wraps with Apple’s $30 billion Broadcom deal, Meta’s tamper-proof recording light, Michigan’s parasite outbreak, and a simulation that erased a super El Niño. – Want to start a podcast? Its easy to get started! Sign-up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens with a quick personal update. Longer days have him outdoors, including a float trip on the Sandy River at Dabney State Park, where he found clearer water, clay-like sand, and easy footing. Next week brings both a move and a trip home, so he is stocking up on Trader Joe’s “Power Berries” and IKEA bags at his mom’s request. Then he turns to the lead story. AI Distillation Explained: How Frontier Models Teach Each Other Cochrane’s featured story comes from Hugging Face engineer Sergio Paniego. Distillation is teacher-student training for AI: a capable model generates the training signal, and a smaller student learns to match it. The classic off-policy version compresses giant models into cheap students, either through soft labels or piles of worked answers. Google’s Gemma models and DeepSeek’s R1-Distill line were built exactly this way. However, the industry is now converging on multi-teacher on-policy distillation, or MOPD. Labs build reinforcement-learning specialists for math, coding, and agentic work, then have them grade a single student, word by word, as the student generates its own answers. DeepSeek-V4, MiMo-V2-Flash, and NVIDIA’s Nemotron 3 Ultra all run versions of the recipe, and the Qwen3 team reported better results at roughly a tenth of the GPU hours of raw reinforcement learning. Finally, self-distillation lets models like Cursor’s Composer 2.5 learn from better-prompted versions of themselves. Sponsor: GoDaddy Economy hosting $6.99/month, WordPress hosting $12.99/month, domains $11.99. Website builder trial available. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy to support the show. GPT-5.6 Arrives With a Government-Vetted Rollout OpenAI shipped GPT-5.6 as a three-tier family: Sol, Terra, and Luna. Sol costs five dollars in and thirty dollars out per million tokens, half of Claude Fable 5’s rate. The benchmarks split: Sol Ultra wins Terminal-Bench at 91.9 percent, while Claude Fable 5 still leads SWE-Bench Pro. Notably, the API launched in limited preview to roughly 20 partners vetted by the U.S. government, though the model went live in Microsoft 365 Copilot on day one. Claude Sonnet 5 Lands on AWS, Plus Quick AWS Wins Claude Sonnet 5 arrived on AWS through Bedrock, pitched as top-tier intelligence at Sonnet pricing. Additionally, Amazon WorkSpaces for AI agents reached general availability, enabling agents to drive full desktop applications securely. OpenSearch gained a log-analytics engine claiming four times the price-performance, and SageMaker now scales inference about twice as fast. Cochrane also flags that Kendra and Q Business move to maintenance mode at the end of July. Anthropic Wants You to Reflect on Your Claude Habits Anthropic launched Reflect, a beta feature that analyzes your past Claude conversations and visualizes how you actually use the assistant. It requires Memory, excludes incognito and health-related chats, and keeps its insights inside the tool. Cochrane loves the idea. He reviews his own transcripts to extract prompt patterns and turn them into reusable skills, and he suggests listeners simply ask their AI to do the same. AlphaEvolve Goes GA on Google Cloud Google made AlphaEvolve generally available to Google Cloud customers on the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform. The agent acts as an evolutionary collaborator: provide a baseline algorithm and your goals, and it searches for better, human-readable code. BASF, JetBrains, and Kinaxis are the named early adopters. Meanwhile, Cochrane renews his standing wish that DeepMind release AlphaGo as a playable teacher. Google Adds “How This Ad Was Made” AI Labels Google is adding a “How this ad was made” section to My Ad Center across Search, YouTube, and Discover. Ads built with Google’s own AI tools automatically get the disclosure, backed by invisible watermarks. However, ads made with outside tools rely on advertiser self-declaration. Cochrane points out the limits of voluntary disclosure in an AI-flooded content economy. Microsoft’s Carbon Emissions Climb 25 Percent Microsoft’s new sustainability report shows emissions up 25% in 2025, driven by a data center construction spree. The gross figure is 34 million metric tons before offsets, while other coverage puts the net figure at around 20 million. Water consumption also jumped thirty-four percent, even as Microsoft claims its first water-positive year. Cochrane argues regulation needs to catch up, since Google and Amazon report similar increases. Prince George’s County Pauses Data Centers for Two Years Prince George’s County adopted a two-year moratorium on new data center development, the longest pause in Maryland so far. The resolution blocks new applications, including hyperscale projects, until the council passes real regulations. Water and energy impacts remain open questions the county intends to study. Cochrane gives kudos to residents for making their voices heard. Apple and Broadcom Ink a $30 Billion U.S. Chip Deal Apple is expanding its partnership with Broadcom with a multiyear agreement expected to exceed $30 billion. The deal covers custom silicon and wireless components, with more than fifteen billion chips to be made on American soil. Broadcom’s Fort Collins, Colorado plant anchors the work with a $1.5 billion equipment expansion. Tim Cook framed the deal as accelerating Apple’s commitment to American manufacturing. MSI and Intel Ship the First Arc G3 Extreme Handheld Intel detailed how it co-engineered the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, the first handheld on the Arc G3 Extreme processor. Highlights include a heat-spreading board layout and game-tuning loops that Intel says run Cyberpunk 2077 up to thirty-seven percent faster. The device is on sale now in void purple for around $1,500. At that price, Cochrane jokes he would rather buy a computer. Meta’s Glasses Get a Tamper-Proof Recording Light Meta answered the most common privacy questions about its AI glasses. Photos stay private on the device until the wearer imports or shares them, and a white capture LED blinks during any recording with no off switch. Moreover, newer glasses disable the camera if the LED is blocked, tampered with, or destroyed. Cochrane reminds listeners these claims are Meta grading its own homework, but the blink signal is worth recognizing in public. Michigan’s Parasite Outbreak Tops 1,200 Cases Michigan’s cyclosporiasis outbreak reached 1,251 cases since June 22, with roughly forty hospitalizations along the way. Northwest Ohio adds more than five hundred cases. The parasite typically spreads through contaminated fresh produce, and investigators still have not found the source. Cochrane’s advice: wash your produce, and get tested if your symptoms fit. AI Finds the San Andreas Fault’s Silent Slips Researchers paired AI with borehole strainmeters to detect dozens of hidden slow-slip events beneath the San Andreas Fault’s Parkfield section. Each silent slip releases stress within hours and is reliably followed by low-frequency earthquakes. Together, the findings support a continuous spectrum from silent creep to destructive quakes. The study appears in Nature Communications, and Cochrane hopes it will lead to better earthquake prediction. Cloud Brightening Erased a Super El Niño, in a Simulation Finally, a Science Advances study simulated marine cloud brightening in response to the 1997 and 2015 super El Niño events. Seeding clouds over the eastern Pacific erased the events entirely inside the model. Real deployment would take roughly 2,400 ships spraying continuously, and the simulations showed side effects like extra warming over Europe and Asia. Cochrane finds the weather-machine concept fascinating, yet he questions the consequences of altering cycles the planet runs for a reason. The post AI Distillation: How Frontier Models Teach Each Other #1870 appeared first on Geek News Central.

In this episode, Ray Cochrane digs into “algorithmic outing,” new research showing that social feeds can infer your sexual orientation before you have consciously come out. He also covers Meta’s privacy-aware AI infrastructure, Alberta’s 466-million-line code scan with Claude, NVIDIA on reinforcement learning, and the many journeys of learning Rust. Along the way, he hits Google DeepMind’s A24 deal, WhatsApp usernames, and scuba-diving cyborg cockroaches. Finally, he looks up with Webb’s puzzling early universe, NASA’s emergency telescope rescue, and a gorgeous aurora from orbit. – Want to start a podcast? Its easy to get started! Sign-up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens with a quick personal update. He hopes listeners had a good holiday weekend, and he shares that he spent his time working his other job at Oregon’s Finest, chatting with people around Portland. Because his Blurbry workweek tends to be solitary, he refills his social meter on the weekends. He then recalls a Saturday night out with coworkers at the Hungry Tiger before turning to the lead story. Algorithmic Outing: When Your Feed Knows Before You Do Cochrane leads with new research from Australia that identifies a phenomenon called “algorithmic outing.” In short, the recommendation systems behind your social feeds can infer your sexual orientation or gender identity and start serving related content before you have worked it out yourself. Importantly, the study is small and qualitative, built on in-depth interviews with twenty LGBTQ+ adults in the Hunter region of New South Wales and published in the journal Gender, Place and Culture. The mechanism is engagement signals: what you like, who you follow, and how long you linger on a post, a metric the industry calls dwell time. Lead researcher Dr. Justin Ellis of the University of Newcastle notes that several participants said the algorithm “knew” they were queer before they did, an experience that felt validating for some but frightening for others in public settings. For Cochrane, the deeper worry is what else that hidden pattern encodes, from upbringing to mental health, and where that data ultimately gets sold. Sponsor: GoDaddy Economy hosting $6.99/month, WordPress hosting $12.99/month, domains $11.99. Website builder trial available. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy to support the show. Meta’s Blueprint for Privacy-Aware AI Infrastructure Next, Cochrane turns to a sharp engineering piece from Meta on privacy-aware infrastructure. The core challenge is that a system must understand what a piece of data actually is before any privacy rule can protect it. A field named “age,” for example, might describe a person in one place and a cache setting in another. Meta’s answer deploys a large language model only on the genuinely ambiguous cases, then distills what it learns into fixed, human-reviewed rules. The payoff is concrete. According to Meta, those deterministic rules already handle about 85 percent of the traffic, and only the last 15 percent falls back to the model, which costs roughly 400 times more compute. Cochrane loves this edge-case approach. However, he contrasts it sharply with the AI-everywhere software he wrestles with at his weekend job, which he says the heavy AI reliance genuinely makes worse and harder to audit. Alberta Scans 466 Million Lines of Code With Claude This one comes from Anthropic, and it ties directly to Meta’s theme. A team inside Alberta’s Ministry of Technology and Innovation used Claude to scan 466 million lines of code in about twenty hours, a review Anthropic estimates would have taken humans roughly six and a half years. Notably, they ran around fifty AI agents in parallel, essentially an automated red team and blue team probing the systems at once. For Cochrane, this is the good version of AI in production: cleaning up and locking down real systems rather than running the show unsupervised. NVIDIA on Reinforcement Learning for AI Agents On the AI-building side, Cochrane walks through an NVIDIA developer piece on reinforcement learning for agents. Reinforcement learning rewards a model for good behavior rather than showing it the right answer, much like training a dog with treats. Additionally, he clears up a common mix-up. NVIDIA treats RAG, retrieval-augmented generation, as a separate tool: reinforcement learning changes how a model behaves, while RAG changes what facts it can reach. GitHub Retires Two Gemini Models Meanwhile, GitHub is retiring Gemini 2.5 Pro and Gemini 3 Flash across all of Copilot on July 31. The migration paths are Gemini 3.1 Pro and Gemini 3.5 Flash. Cochrane flags it as a sign of the times, since tools that felt brand new a couple of years ago are already getting sunset. He also wonders how quickly today’s “AI-optimized” chips will turn over as the models keep changing. The Many Journeys of Learning Rust One for the programmers, and Cochrane makes no secret of loving Rust. The Rust blog’s Vision Doc series explores how people actually learn the language, which is built around memory safety and its strict borrow checker. Honest themes surface throughout, including “clone guilt,” where beginners refuse to copy anything, and “silent attrition,” the learners who quietly bounce off. His take stands: getting your brain onto a memory-safe language rewires how you approach a problem. Google DeepMind Partners With A24 In an interesting collision of worlds, Google DeepMind is teaming up with A24, the studio behind Hereditary and Everything Everywhere All at Once. The two call it a first-of-its-kind research partnership, with DeepMind researchers and A24 building creative tools shaped by the artists who use them. Cochrane adds a detail worth noting: Google also invested in A24, so this is money on the table, not just a research handshake. For now, though, the announcement stays deliberately vague, with no named films or products. Google’s $1 Million Africa Indie Game Fund Another one from Google, and it is good news for developers. Google is launching an indie games fund for sub-Saharan Africa, a region whose gaming scene is growing about as fast as anywhere. The fund puts up $1 million across ten local studios, each receiving between $50,000 and $200,000 plus mentorship and hands-on support. Applications close at noon UTC on July 31. WhatsApp Usernames Are Here to Reserve WhatsApp is finally moving off phone numbers as your identity. With usernames, someone can start a conversation with you without ever seeing your number. Starting this week, you can reserve the name you want ahead of the full launch later this year. To claim yours, head into Settings, then Account, then Username. Intel Sets Its Q2 Earnings Date Cochrane flags a date worth watching for anyone tracking Intel. The company reports second-quarter results on July 23, right after market close, with an earnings call at 2 p.m. Pacific. Given recent US government investment and a shifting chip landscape, he is curious how the domestic chipmaker is holding up. Your Smartwatch Might Spot Illness Before You Do Shifting to health, Engadget reports that the wearables-plus-AI wave is starting to deliver. These devices excel at catching the moment your body drifts off its own baseline, often the first nudge to get checked out. A 2025 study from Texas A&M and Stanford suggests smartwatches can detect early signs of COVID or the flu within hours of infection. Additionally, Apple Watch’s irregular-rhythm alerts have flagged AFib correctly about 84 percent of the time. Working Memory and Consciousness Here is a heady one from Scientific American, written by philosopher Henry Taylor at the University of Birmingham. Working memory is the mental scratchpad holding whatever you are doing right now. Taylor opens with the doorway effect, that blank moment when you enter a room and forget why. Intriguingly, when information leaves working memory, it seems to leave conscious awareness at the same instant, a link drawing fresh attention across psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience. Scuba-Diving Cyborg Cockroaches Now for the wild one. Scientists have built tiny diving suits that let Madagascar hissing cockroaches survive underwater for up to three hours, while an unequipped roach suffocates in minutes. The 3D-printed suit feeds oxygen through tubes into the insect’s breathing holes, called spiracles, using a chemical generator with no electronics. This lab already steered the roaches with electrodes, so the diving suit is the new trick on top. Researchers pitch it for search and rescue, though Cochrane notes the reality of the spy bug has already arrived. Quantum Time Runs Backward at Los Alamos Next, a genuine brain-bender. Physicists at Los Alamos, led by Luis Pedro García-Pintos, found a way to make a quantum system look like it is running backward in time. To be clear, time is not literally reversing. Precise measurements just make the system’s evolution appear to unfold in reverse. The useful part is energy: measurement itself becomes a resource in what they call a continuous measurement engine. Cochrane admits the paper drifted further from his reality the more he read. Tall Trees Shrug Off Drought A new study in Science overturns some textbook wisdom. For years, the assumption held that taller trees suffer more in drought because they must lift water higher. However, researchers studying dipterocarps in Southeast Asia found that trees topping seventy meters slowed their growth by about the same amount as short ones during the 2023-2024 El Niño drought. The trick is plumbing: a seventy-meter tree grows base vessels roughly twice as wide as a ten-meter tree, so the real driver of drought stress is subtler than raw height. The Energy Department Purges Conservation Pages This next one frustrates Cochrane. The US Department of Energy deleted roughly 6,000 web pages about energy conservation, and the timing is brutal during a record heatwave. The move followed backlash over New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani urging residents to ease strain on the grid. Fortunately, the Internet Archive and its Wayback Machine preserved the pages before they vanished. For Cochrane, deleting that kind of public information simply does not make sense. Webb’s Puzzling New Universe Heading to space, Quanta Magazine explores how the James Webb Space Telescope keeps finding early-universe objects that should not exist. Those include black holes that grew enormous too fast and hundreds of mysterious “little red dots” around 650 million years after the Big Bang. As astrophysicist Rachel Somerville of the Flatiron Institute puts it, scientists have “almost gone from having too many early galaxies to having too many theories.” The hard part now is figuring out which theory is right. NASA’s Emergency Telescope Rescue NASA has a rescue mission underway for the Swift Observatory, a 2004 telescope that studies gamma-ray bursts. Recent solar storms puffed up Earth’s atmosphere, and the added drag has dragged Swift’s orbit down to about 224 miles, low enough to risk burning up this year. To intervene, NASA enlisted Katalyst Space Technologies of Flagstaff, Arizona, whose LINK spacecraft launched Friday. The plan is to boost Swift back up to roughly 373 miles. A Gorgeous Aurora From Orbit Finally, Cochrane closes on something beautiful. ESA shared a stunning aurora captured from orbit, a shimmering green band of light rippling over the planet. If you have a few minutes, it is well worth a look. Cochrane wraps with housekeeping and a thank-you to GoDaddy for two decades of support, then signs off, wishing listeners a wonderful evening. The post Algorithmic Outing: When Your Feed Knows Before You Do #1869 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Send us Fan MailDoes the latest Cochrane evidence finally tip the balance in favor of erythropoiesis stimulating agents in preterm infants? In this VON Grand Rounds follow-up episode, Ben sits down with Dr. Roger Soll and Dr. Souvik Mitra to review the 2026 Cochrane systematic review on early ESA use in preterm newborns. Across 37 trials and over 6,000 infants, early ESAs consistently reduce the need for red blood cell transfusion. The review also confirms with high certainty that ESAs do not increase retinopathy of prematurity. The conversation covers shared decision making, drug selection, dosing, iron supplementation, and which patient populations should be prioritized.Support the showAs always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.Enjoy!

In this episode, Ray Cochrane digs into Claude Science, Anthropic’s new AI workbench for researchers, and explains why its auditable, reproducible outputs matter more than the AI itself. He also covers Google’s June AI recap, the Pulpie web-cleaning model, the PamStealer Mac malware, a synthetic cell that divides on its own, and the first-ever treatment trial for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Finally, he looks skyward with NASA’s year-long Mars simulation and a can’t-miss July skywatching night. – Want to start a podcast? Its easy to get started! Sign-up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens with a quick personal update. He mentions a busy stretch at Blubrry and an upcoming local move, followed by a late-August trip to Michigan with his partner. He also notes that Oregon is at its summer best right now, with flowers everywhere. Then he sends a happy 30th birthday to his sister Anna before diving into the lead story. Claude Science: Anthropic’s AI Workbench for Researchers Cochrane leads with Claude Science, which Anthropic describes as an AI workbench for scientists. It pulls together scattered research tools into a single environment and ships with more than 60 skills and connectors for fields such as genomics and structural biology. According to Anthropic, every result carries an auditable history: the exact code, the computing environment, and a plain-language account of what happened. For Cochrane, reproducibility is the real story, not AI, because a result that nobody can reproduce does not count for much. The tool runs on macOS and Linux, with Windows support via WSL, and Cochrane says he already has it set up on his own machine for his machine learning work. Notably, it arrived during a busy week for Anthropic. The company also shipped an upgraded Sonnet 5, and its top-tier Fable 5 model returned after a brief pause tied to a US export-control order. Sponsor: GoDaddy Economy hosting $6.99/month, WordPress hosting $12.99/month, domains $11.99. Website builder trial available. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy to support the show. Google Recaps Its June AI Push Next, Cochrane runs through Google’s roundup of its June AI announcements. A Gemini-based prototype aims to help local councils clear administrative backlogs and halve the time to process planning applications. Google is also backing seven bipartisan bills against scams. Meanwhile, its research models now predict river floods up to seven days out, track wildfire boundaries, and forecast cyclone paths. Pulpie Cleans Up the Web for a Fraction of the Cost This one comes from Hugging Face. Pulpie is a web extractor that strips a page down to its main content and tosses the ads, headers, and sidebars. That matters because language models read the web twice, once in training and again at inference. According to the team, cleaning a billion pages costs about $7,900 with Pulpie versus roughly $159,000 with the leading tool, Dripper, and it is open for anyone to use. An AI Alexander Hamilton Comes to Boston The Museum of American Finance, a free Smithsonian affiliate, opens a new home on July 3 at Boston’s Commonwealth Pier. Its headline draw is an AI-generated Alexander Hamilton that chats with visitors in multiple languages. However, Cochrane finds it fun but wonders how much of an upgrade an AI kiosk really is over a scripted one. Arm’s June Roundup: Azure Silicon and Better Mobile Graphics From the Arm newsroom, Cochrane highlights Cobalt 200, Microsoft’s Azure processor tuned for agentic AI. Two Unreal Engine features, MegaLights and Nanite, are also coming to mobile to deliver richer lighting and detail. Additionally, a small open-source robot called Reachy Mini shows off on-device physical AI. Arm also continues shrinking large language models to fit on phones. Meta Marks Ten Years of Backing Python Meta just hit its tenth straight year sponsoring the Python Software Foundation. The nonprofit keeps the language healthy and its global community funded. Beyond funding, Meta supports the developer-in-residence program, PyPI security, and open-source tools like the Pyrefly type checker. Cochrane urges listeners to push their own companies to sponsor the open-source projects they rely on. PamStealer: Mac Malware That Verifies Your Password First Ars Technica reported a stealthy new macOS infostealer called PamStealer. It shows a fake password prompt, then validates the entry through Apple’s own PAM system, so it only keeps confirmed correct passwords. The malware spreads via a fake disk image that poses as Maccy, a legitimate clipboard manager. Cochrane’s advice is simple: only download from maccy.app, and never run a script or press Command-R just because an app told you to. Apple Creator Studio Gets a Suite-Wide AI Update Apple rolled out AI features across its Creator Studio apps. Final Cut Pro leads with auto-generated captions, edit detection, and an auto-mask tool. Meanwhile, Pixelmator adds Match Color, and Logic Pro gains chord identification plus a full teaching session behind a real track. Cochrane calls that built-in lesson a nice leg up for anyone learning to produce music. New York’s Heat Wave Sparks a Thermostat Fight From Inside Climate News, Cochrane covers the backlash after New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to set thermostats to 78 degrees. That advice matched what Con Edison, the state’s largest utility, was already saying. Cochrane sets the politics aside and focuses on the real goal: keeping the grid from buckling during a brutal heat wave. A Synthetic Cell Grows and Divides on Its Own Quanta Magazine reports a major breakthrough. Researchers built a cell from nonliving parts, and for the first time it grew, copied its DNA, and split into two daughter cells. That dividing step had stalled the field for years. Cochrane credits Kate Adamala and her team at the University of Minnesota, who cracked it with a clever membrane trick. First Treatment Trial Begins for the Bundibugyo Ebola Strain The World Health Organization launched the first-ever treatment trial for Bundibugyo, a distinct Ebola strain, amid a serious outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the largest Bundibugyo outbreak on record, with about 1,400 cases and 438 deaths, and Uganda is now seeing cases too. The trial tests an antibody cocktail and the antiviral remdesivir. Cochrane also notes the WHO declared the recent shipboard hantavirus outbreak over. An Orbital Sunrise From the Space Station NASA astronaut Chris Williams photographed a stunning sunrise from the International Space Station on June 26. Because the station circles Earth so quickly, the crew sees sixteen sunrises and sixteen sunsets every single day. Cochrane points listeners to the full image on nasa.gov. NASA Seeks Volunteers for a Year-Long Mars Simulation Scientific American reports that NASA is recruiting for its next Moon and Mars Exploration Analog. Volunteers will live inside a habitat for a full year, facing the isolation and resource limits of a real mission. It begins no earlier than August 2027 at Johnson Space Center. Cochrane admits it is not for him, but calls it an amazing opportunity. NASA’s July Skywatching Guide Finally, Cochrane looks up. On July 11 and 12, a crescent Moon lines up with Mars, Saturn, and Uranus before dawn. Then July 14 brings a new Moon, a great window for the returning Comet 10P/Tempel 2, and prime Milky Way viewing. Saturn’s thin ring angle is a bonus through a telescope. Cochrane wraps with the usual housekeeping and a reminder that every GoDaddy click supports the show. As always, he signs off wishing listeners a great night. The post Claude Science: AI Workbench for Scientists #1868 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Nicola Lindson discuss emerging evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Jessica Yingst, Penn State Center for Research on Tobacco and Health, USA. Associate Professor Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Associate Professor Nicola Lindson discuss the new evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Dr Jessica Yingst. Dr Jessica Yingst is a member of the Penn State Center for Research on Tobacco and Health and is the co-director of the Career Enhancement Core with the Penn State Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science otherwise known as a TCORS. Jessica Yingst is a public health researcher focused on understanding methods to reduce harms associated with tobacco use. In the June podcast Jessica Yingst shares the findings of their randomised clinical trial comparing standardized research e-cigarette (SREC) with 5% nicotine or 0%. Their study explored toxicant exposures after switching from cigarettes to a pod-based electronic cigarette. They wanted to determine the short-term effects of switching from cigarettes to a pod-based 5% nicotine e-cigarette, compared with a 0% nicotine e-cigarette. Their study found that participants who switched from cigarettes to a 5% nicotine SREC experienced reduced exposure to several tobacco-related toxicants and higher rates of cigarette abstinence than those who switched to a 0% nicotine SREC. Their findings suggest that e-cigarettes delivering nicotine at levels comparable to conventional cigarettes may play an important role in reducing exposure to harmful smoking-related toxicants while supporting complete smoking cessation. This podcast is a companion to the electronic cigarettes Cochrane living systematic review and Interventions for quitting vaping review and shares the evidence from the monthly searches. Our searches for the EC for smoking cessation review carried out on 1st June 2026 found: 3 new ongoing studies (NCT07039292, NCT07598136, NCT07199517) and 3 linked reports (10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.13292 (discussed in this podcast), 10.18332/tid/218987, 10.1111/add.70421). Our search for our interventions for quitting vaping review carried out on 1st June 2026 found: 5 new ongoing studies (ACTRN12626000548336, NCT05037656, NCT07593742, 10.1186/s12889-026-27567-y, 10.1038/s41598-026-45720-w). For further details see our webpage under 'Monthly search findings': https://www.cebm.ox.ac.uk/research/electronic-cigarettes-for-smoking-cessation-cochrane-living-systematic-review-1 For more information on the full Cochrane review of E-cigarettes for smoking cessation updated in November 2025 see: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010216.pub10/full For more information on the full Cochrane review of Interventions for quitting vaping published in November 2025 see: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD016058.pub3/full

In this episode of the Heart podcast, Digital Media Editor, Professor James Rudd, is joined by Dr Ben Buckley from John Moores University. They discuss his Cochrane systematic review about the use of cardiac rehabilitation in patients with atrial fibrillation, and whether this might lead to a change in the guidelines. Spoiler: there was a significant benefit in terms of reducing the risk of recurrent atrial fibrillation. Listen to find out more! If you enjoy the show, please leave us a positive review wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us to reach more people - thanks! Link to published paper: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/59/17/1242  

In this episode, Ray Cochrane unpacks how two colliding black holes revealed a whirlpool in spacetime, a direct detection of frame dragging hidden in the cleanest gravitational-wave signal ever recorded. Additional stories cover the James Webb Space Telescope, counting 16.5 million stars in the Cigar Galaxy, SpaceX rolling out Starship V3, deadly back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela, GitHub fighting a California law that could break open source, and Meta engineering a battery narrow enough to live in a pair of glasses. – Want to start a podcast? It’s easy to get started! Sign-up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens with a personal update before the night’s lead story. He recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Portland State University, celebrated with family in town, and launched a new site at rayc.world. That site links to a final-project study he built on collaborative filtering using podcasting data, hosted at cohort.rayc.world and drawn from OP3 analytics. He also plans to return to the show’s classic twice-weekly cadence on Mondays and Thursdays. From there, he goes deep on a new black hole discovery, then pivots through space, earth science, climate, biotech, open source, cloud infrastructure, and consumer hardware. Colliding Black Holes Reveal a Whirlpool in Spacetime Two black holes spiraled together, merged, and sent a gravitational wave rippling across the universe. Researcher Neil Lu and colleagues at the Australian National University found the fingerprint of frame dragging buried in GW250114, the cleanest signal LIGO has ever recorded. Frame dragging means a spinning black hole drags spacetime around with it, like a spoon turning in honey, except the honey is reality itself. Remarkably, the wave changed the distance between your nose and your ear as it passed, by far less than the width of a single atom. Sponsor: GoDaddy Economy hosting is $6.99/month, WordPress hosting is $12.99/month, and domains are $11.99. Website builder trial available. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy to support the show. Webb Counts the Stars in the Cigar Galaxy NASA released a striking new James Webb Space Telescope view of Messier 82, the edge-on galaxy nicknamed the Cigar Galaxy. Because Webb sees in infrared, it peers straight through the dust that normally hides the galaxy’s interior. Combined with archival Hubble data, the image resolves roughly 16.5 million individual stars. M82 is a starburst galaxy, meaning it forms stars at a furious rate, a frenzy likely triggered when it merged with a neighbor. SpaceX Rolls Out Starship V3 SpaceX officially introduced Starship V3, the third generation of the largest rocket ever built. The vehicle now flies on the Raptor 3 engine, pushing liftoff thrust to around 20 million pounds and making it the most powerful rocket ever flown. More importantly, V3 is designed to carry over 100 metric tons to low Earth orbit while staying fully reusable, roughly triple the previous version. SpaceX also added in-orbit refueling hardware, the capability that finally makes operational Moon and Mars missions realistic. The Asteroid Barrage That Kept Earth From Forming Continents A team led by Curtin University and the Queensland University of Technology argues that relentless asteroid impacts shaped the very young Earth. During the Hadean, more than four billion years ago, the planet was struck far more often than it is today. Each impact dumped heat deep into the interior, repeatedly melting and reworking the crust. Consequently, stable continents formed much later than calmer models assumed, painting a picture of a hotter, weaker, more chaotic early Earth. Back-to-Back Earthquakes Devastate Northern Venezuela Northern Venezuela was struck by two major earthquakes on June 24, a magnitude 7.2 foreshock followed by a magnitude 7.5 mainshock. Both hit only about six miles underground, so the shallow shaking delivered its full force at the surface. Tragically, at least 164 people died, and the region sits along the tangled boundary where the Caribbean and South American plates grind past each other. These were the largest quakes to hit the area since a magnitude 7.7 event near Caracas in 1900. The ‘Guerrilla Solar’ Era Has Arrived A quiet energy shift, nicknamed “guerrilla solar,” is spreading across Europe. These small plug-in panels deliver power to a home’s wiring via a standard wall outlet, with no electrician or permit required. Germany now counts roughly a million of these systems. However, the U.S. payoff remains modest, with savings estimates of around $15 per month against a $500 to $1,500 setup cost. Why a Broken-Up Forest Stores Less Carbon Researchers quantified what foresters long suspected: an intact forest stores far more carbon than the same acreage split into fragments. A hectare inside a large, continuous forest proved about 38 percent more productive than an isolated one. The culprit is edge effects, the extra wind, heat, and direct sun that stress trees at a forest’s boundary. Because a large forest maintains a large protected core while fragments are nearly all edge, planting trees together matters for carbon storage. Edited Human Embryos Reveal a Surprise Researchers used base editing, a precise cousin of CRISPR that rewrites a single DNA letter without cutting the strand, in human embryos. They discovered that a protein called NANOG plays a role in early human development that it does not play in mice. In humans, switching it off still let cells form that seed the placenta and yolk sac. The finding argues that understanding human development requires studying human embryos directly, which reignites a thorny ethical debate. GitHub Fights a California Law That Could Break Open Source GitHub joined Black Forest Labs, Hugging Face, and Mozilla to push for fixes to California’s AI Transparency Act. As written, the bill could force revocation of an open-source license when a downstream user fails to meet certain obligations, which clashes with the permanent, irrevocable promise of open source. Cochrane pointed to curl and its longtime maintainer, Daniel Stenberg, warning that the rule could destabilize the supply chain on which the whole tech world runs. Instead, the coalition points to the EU’s AI Act transparency code as a saner model. Rust Opens Its Maintainers Fund The Rust Foundation launched a Maintainers Fund to pay the people who keep the language’s ecosystem healthy. Backed by RFC 3931, it establishes a funding team and a new Maintainer-in-Residence program for the often thankless work on the compiler, standard library, Cargo, and Clippy. Individuals can donate through GitHub Sponsors, while companies can sponsor there or contact the foundation directly. Cochrane urged any business that depends on open source to invest in the projects it actually uses. AWS Gives Lambda Its Own Isolated Sandboxes AWS introduced MicroVMs inside Lambda, its serverless platform. Each session runs in a dedicated micro virtual machine with no shared kernel and up to eight hours of total runtime. The feature exists for the AI era, in which applications increasingly run code written by an AI agent rather than by the developer. Use cases include AI coding assistants, data analytics platforms, vulnerability scanners, and game servers running user-supplied scripts. Meta Engineers a Battery Narrow Enough for Glasses Meta built custom steel-can battery cells as narrow as seven millimeters to fit the temple arms of smart glasses like the Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta Vanguards. These cells power cameras, speakers, and AI features in a space most engineers would call impossible. To prevent brownouts, Meta swapped wound electrodes for precisely die-cut stacked layers that lower electrical resistance. Now the company is spreading the technology across multiple vendors and eyeing other wearables. Polestar Gets Locked Out of the US Market Starting in 2027, Polestar will not be able to sell its new models in the United States. A federal Connected Vehicle Rule bars cars containing certain Chinese or Russian software or hardware on national security grounds. The painful irony is that Polestar moved production of the Polestar 3 to South Carolina specifically to dodge tariffs on Chinese-built EVs. Because the rule targets the technology’s origin rather than its assembly location, the company is shut out anyway. Retroid’s Pocket Nova Packs Serious Power for $229 Retroid returned with a new retro handheld, the Pocket Nova, starting at $229 with a step-up model around $269. It features a 4.5-inch AMOLED screen in a 4:3 aspect ratio, a shape well suited to classic games. On paper, it should handle GameCube- and PlayStation 2-era titles, though that remains an early expectation rather than a benchmarked promise. Retroid has earned a strong reputation for high-quality, genuinely portable consoles. Cochrane signs off with the usual ecosystem mentions: GNC Insider at geeknewscentral.com/insider, the show newsletter, email at geeknews@gmail.com, and modern podcast app recommendations at podcastapps.com. The post Colliding Black Holes Reveal a Whirlpool in Spacetime #1866 appeared first on Geek News Central.

In this episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons responds to Peter Attia's breast cancer screening episode (#396). Attia asks the right question: why are 42,000 women still dying of breast cancer every year? But his answer, more mammograms and MRI on top, is exactly wrong. Dr. Jenn breaks down, study by study, why that 40-year approach has never moved the death toll.Forty-two thousand women a year. That number has not moved since mammography went mainstream in the 1980s. Detection rates are up, diagnoses are up, and the death toll has not changed. We have been finding more cancer, calling more women patients, and watching the same number of them die. If you have ever scheduled your annual mammogram believing it was the most protective thing you could do, this episode will reframe everything you thought you knew.What You'll LearnWhy the breast cancer death toll has not moved in 40 years, and why more screening is the reasonWhy DCIS is not cancer, why mammography invented it, and what happens to a woman the moment it gets labeled "stage zero"Why an aggressive tumor is aggressive from the day it forms, and why finding it earlier on a mammogram does not change what it does nextWhy mammography catches the cancers least likely to kill you, and routinely misses the ones that willWhat happened when researchers followed 89,835 women for 25 years and compared annual mammography to doing nothing, and why you have never heard about itWhat the Cochrane review found after analyzing every randomized mammography trial ever run, and why Peter Attia addressed it in one sentenceWhy the WISDOM trial, the most significant recent evidence in this space and the one study Attia never mentions, is an indictment of everything he arguedWhy there is no standard radiation dose for a mammogram, and why the woman next to you in the waiting room may have received ten times less than you didWhat the FDA has formally documented about gadolinium staying in the brain and bones for years, and why the women being told to get it every six months are the last women who shouldWhy insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and toxic burden are among the most powerful drivers of breast cancer risk, and why Attia's episode contained zero mention of any of themResources MentionedPeter Attia, Episode 396 on breast cancer screening: peterattiamd.com/breastcancerscreeningDr. Robin Berzin, founder of Parsley HealthMiller AB, et al. Twenty five year follow-up of the Canadian National Breast Screening Study. BMJ. 2014;348:g366.Gøtzsche PC, Jørgensen KJ. Screening for breast cancer with mammography. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(6):CD001877.Zahl PH, et al. Results of the Two-County trial are not compatible with official Swedish breast cancer statistics. Danish Medical Bulletin. 2006;53(4):438–440.Nyström L, et al. Long-term effects of mammography screening: updated overview of the Swedish randomised trials. Lancet. 2002;359:909–19.Esserman LJ, et al. Risk-Based vs Annual Breast Cancer Screening: The WISDOM Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2026;335(9):763–774.FDA gadolinium-based contrast agent safety communications (2015, 2017, 2018), summarized in Fotenos A, FDA Pediatric Advisory Committee, Sept 2018.Kanda T, et al. High signal intensity in the dentate nucleus and globus pallidus and cumulative gadolinium dose. Radiology. 2014;270(3):834–841.Veenhuizen SGA, et al. Supplemental breast MRI for women with extremely dense breasts: DENSE trial. Radiology. 2021;299(2):278–286.Tabar L, et al. Reduction in mortality from breast cancer after mass screening with mammography. Lancet. 1985;325:829–32.To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working privately with Dr. Jenn visit: https://calendly.com/stephanie-1031/clarity-callTo get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuideTo purchase the auria breast cancer screening test go here https://auria.care/ and use the code DRJENN20 for 20% Off.Connect with Dr. Jenn:Website: https://www.jennsimmonsmd.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmonsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons

Galactagogues and medications to boost milk production. Everything from oats to fenugreek to lactation cookies and prescription medications like metoclopramide and domperidone. Also, cow's milk protein allergy, reflux and baby's spit-up, the safety of alcohol while breastfeeding, and how to handle other prescription medications. Natalie Borden, an international board certified lactation consultant, joins Chris to debunk breastfeeding myths. Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you! http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/ https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE   Email us your questions at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.   Editor:    Robyn Flynn Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos Chris' book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer   Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information. References: Internet survey on patient use of lactation aides: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37236347/ Cochrane 2020 on galactogogues: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32421208/ 2023 RCT on lactation cookies: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36921902/ The LactMed database: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/

If your loved one with Alzheimer's disease is on one of the new treatment drugs, or you have been weighing whether to try them, the headlines from this spring may have stopped you cold. A major review from one of the most respected research organizations in the world concluded these drugs show no meaningful benefit. Researchers immediately fired back. And you are in the middle of all of it, as a caregiver trying to make real decisions for a real person. Your confusion is completely warranted. This is not a simple story. One headline says breakthrough. The next says it does nothing. But the full picture is more complicated than either side is telling you. In this episode I walk you through what the Cochrane review actually found, why experts are so divided on it, and the three questions you can bring to your loved one's neurologist to make a more informed decision for your specific family. Cochrane Collaboration Review (Full Study): https://www.cochrane.org/about-us/news/anti-amyloid-alzheimers-drugs-show-no-clinically-meaningful-effect  Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc  ⏱ CHAPTERS  0:00 - The headlines that stopped caregivers  1:46 - Who these drugs are actually designed for  2:56 - What the Cochrane review found  5:26 - Why researchers are pushing back  7:50 - 3 questions to ask your loved one's doctor #dementia #dementiacaregiver #alzheimers #caregiving #alzheimersresearch --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.

What happens when a Swiss-born business man who become a bus driver living in the Canadian Rockies decides it's never too late to follow a dream?In this inspiring episode of Most Memorable Journeys, I speak with Marcel Heim, a man whose life journey proves that reinvention has no age limit.Born in Switzerland and now living in Cochrane, Alberta, Marcel spent much of his professional life working in export, technology, project leadership, and business development before making the life-changing decision to move to Canada with his wife Irene. What followed was a journey filled with uncertainty, perseverance, culture shock, and ultimately the creation of a new life in one of the most beautiful places on earth.Today, Marcel still drives a public transit bus through the spectacular Bow Valley between Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louise, where he quietly observes the people who board his bus every day. Their stories, struggles, humour, and humanity became the inspiration for something entirely unexpected.At the age of 66, Marcel is releasing his debut country/Americana album, The Water Never Asked My Name, a collection of twelve songs inspired by real people, real roads, and the quiet moments most of us never notice. Using AI-assisted music production, Marcel transformed years of observations, memories, lyrics, and melodies into a finished album, proving that technology can become a powerful creative tool when guided by authentic human experience.In this conversation we discuss:• Growing up in Switzerland and his early life journey• Meeting the love of his life, Irene• The bold decision to leave Switzerland for Canada• The challenges of immigration and starting over from scratch• Life in the Canadian Rockies• Why he became a bus driver after a successful professional career• The fascinating people who inspired his songs• How artificial intelligence helped him achieve a lifelong dream• Why creativity, curiosity, and reinvention do not have an expiry date• The stories behind songs such as Swiss Boy in the Rockies, Five Minutes and a Heater, and The Water Never Asked My NameThis episode is a beautiful reminder that dreams don't retire when we do. Sometimes they are simply waiting for the right moment to emerge.As Marcel says through his music, the most meaningful stories are often found in ordinary people living ordinary lives.Listen now and discover how one man turned a lifetime of observations into music, proving that it is never too late to create something extraordinary.About Marcel HeimMarcel Heim was born in Switzerland and now lives in Cochrane, Alberta, with his wife Irene. After careers in export, information technology, leadership, and business development, he found inspiration in the everyday lives of passengers travelling through the Canadian Rockies. His debut album, The Water Never Asked My Name, will be released on July 3, 2026.Pre-save the album:distrokid.com/hyperfollow/marcelheim/the-water-never-asked-my-name

Amyloid-targeting monoclonal antibody treatments have ushered in a new era of Alzheimer's disease therapies after decades of research and clinical trials. A recent review published by Cochrane, a global, independent, non-profit network of researchers, professionals, patients and carers regarded as a gold standard for producing and promoting trusted, high-quality health information, has a different perspective on these therapies. The review found these treatments produce “little to no difference” in cognition and offer few benefits while increasing risks for adverse effects. Drs. Cynthia Carlsson, a clinical trialist, David Wolk, a clinician, and Henrik Zetterberg, a biomarker and disease biology expert, join the podcast to break down the review and their concerns, as well as highlight how this review could impact clinical care, research and public policy. Guests: Cynthia Carlsson, MD, MS, director, Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, Clinical Core leader, Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), Louis A. Holland, Sr., Professor in Alzheimer's Disease, geriatrician, University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health; David Wolk, MD, director, Penn ADRC, co-director, Penn Memory Center, co-director, Penn Institute on Aging, professor of neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; and Henrik Zetterberg, MD, PhD, professor of neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, visiting professor, UW–Madison and University College London, Biomarker Core co-leader, Wisconsin ADRC Show Notes Read Cochrane's review, “Amyloid‐beta‐targeting monoclonal antibodies for people with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease,” on the Cochrane Library website. Learn more about Dr. Carlsson and Dr. Zetterberg at their profiles on the Wisconsin ADRC website and about Dr. Wolk at his profile on the Penn Memory Center website. Watch and listen to Dr. Carlsson's past episode, “A Closer Look at the Lecanemab Clinical Trials,” on our YouTube channel or on our website. Listen to Dr. Wolk's past episode, “LATE, Explained,” on our website. Listen to Dr. Zetterberg's past episode, “The Future of Fluid Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias,” on our website. Connect with us Find transcripts and more at our website. Email Dementia Matters: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center's e-newsletter. Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer's. All donations go toward outreach and production. Learn about Dr. Chin's book, When Memory Fades: What to Expect at Every Stage, from Early Signs to Full Support for Alzheimer's and Dementia, out June 2, 2026.

How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk? What is proper latching technique? How do you treat painful nipples? Natalie Borden, an international board certified lactation consultant, joins Chris to debunk breastfeeding myths. Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you! http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/ https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE   Email us your questions at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.   Editor:    Robyn Flynn Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos Chris' book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer   Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information. References: 1) 2014 Cochrane review on Interventions for treating painful nipples among breastfeeding women https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25506813/  

In this episode of Mind the Meds, Erica Marini, PharmD, highlights information from the European Stroke Organization Conference include encouraging data on asundexian(Bayer), a factor XIa inhibitor showing reduced recurrent ischemic stroke risk without increased bleeding, as well as positive results from three trials of tirofiban in acute ischemic stroke settings. On the multiple sclerosis (MS) front, Marini covers the FDA approval of ocrelizumab (Ocrevus; Genentech) for pediatric relapsing-remitting MS in children 10 and older, a new study supporting early use of high-efficacy agents in pediatric MS, and 2 Lancet publications on ocrelizumab — one examining higher weight-adjusted dosing (which did not improve disability progression) and one confirming benefit in a broader primary progressive MS population. She also briefly discusses PADOVA (NCT04777331), a phase 2b trial of prasinezumab in early Parkinson's disease, which failed to meet its primary end point.The bulk of the episode is a discussion with guest Millad Sobhanian, PharmD, BCPS, clinical pharmacy specialist in neurology at the University of Maryland, focused on Alzheimer disease. They cover dextromethorphan/bupropion (Auvelity; Axsome Therapeutics), newly approved in April 2026 for agitation associated with Alzheimer dementia. Sobhanian walks through key safety considerations—including additive NMDA antagonism if combined with memantine, cardiovascular risks from the bupropion component, and the ever-present black box warning on antipsychotics in dementia patients—while both note that the efficacy data, though statistically significant, shows modest clinical effect sizes compared to the threshold for meaningful within-patient change.The conversation then turns to lecanemab's subcutaneous initiation formulation (Leqembi Iqlik; Eisai, Biogen), whose FDA decision has been delayed to about August 2026 as regulators seek more data on bioavailability and ARIA monitoring in the at-home setting. Sobhanian shares his real-world perspective on anti-amyloid therapy, describing a patient population that is typically early-stage, high-functioning, and has a mean age of about 60 to 70 years, and emphasizing the pharmacist's role in expectation-setting around the modest but potentially cumulative slowing of cognitive decline. The episode closes with a thorough discussion of the April 2026 Cochrane review on amyloid-targeting monoclonal antibodies, which both Marini and Sobhanian find overly broad in its conclusions. They note limitations such as the inclusion of withdrawn agents like aducanumab (Aduhelm; Biogen), heterogeneous inclusion criteria across trials, and an 18-month study horizon that may be too short to capture the full benefit suggested by longer-term open-label extension data.Key Takeaways:1. New options for Alzheimer's agitation exist, but fit carefully into the treatment algorithm. Dextromethorphan/bupropion offers a novel NMDA-based mechanism for treating agitation in Alzheimer dementia, but its clinical effect size is modest, and it carries meaningful safety considerations—particularly around the bupropion component in elderly patients. Like all pharmacologic options in this space, it remains a later-line choice after nonpharmacologic interventions have been exhausted, and medication reconciliation is critical given its interaction potential with memantine and CYP2D6 inhibitors.2. Anti-amyloid therapies are imperfect but not ready to be written off. The April 2026 Cochrane review drew significant attention with its conclusion that anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies produce only trivial cognitive benefits, but its findings are limited by the inclusion of older, withdrawn agents, heterogeneous trial populations, and an 18-month time horizon that may be too short to capture the full trajectory of benefit.3. The pharmacist's role in anti-amyloid therapy goes well beyond dispensing. As illustrated by Sobhanian's practice at the University of Maryland, clinical pharmacists embedded in neurology clinics play a critical role in patient selection, expectation-setting, ARIA counseling, and informed decision-making for patients considering anti-amyloid therapy—a complex, high-stakes treatment decision that these patients and their caregivers should never be navigating alone.

What if amyloid is only the match, tau is the brush fire, and neuroinflammation is the wildfire that causes the most damage in Alzheimer's disease?In this episode of Happy & Healthy with Amy, Amy explains why researchers are paying closer attention to neuroinflammation, what may be keeping the brain's immune system stuck in the “on” position, and why midlife is such an important window for protecting your brain.You'll learn how sleep, blood sugar, chronic stress, infections, oral health, and social connection may all influence the conditions that make the brain more—or less—flammable.What to Listen For[00:00] Why amyloid may be the match—but neuroinflammation is the wildfire. [02:30] What the Cochrane review found about anti-amyloid drugs. [04:30] Why timing matters in Alzheimer's disease. [07:00] Is neuroinflammation a side effect—or a driver? [09:00] Why inflammation itself is not the villain. [11:00] Meet microglia: the brain's immune cells. [14:00] Why gum disease matters for Alzheimer's risk.[18:00] The shingles vaccine and dementia risk. [22:00] Blood sugar, insulin resistance, stress, and sleep. [29:00] How to make your brain less “flammable.” Neuroinflammation may be one of the most important pieces of the Alzheimer's prevention puzzle because it connects so many things we often treat separately: sleep, stress, blood sugar, oral health, infections, diet, and connection.Listen to the full episode to understand what may be making your brain more “flammable,” then download the free RESTORED Protocol so you can choose one simple, evidence-based next step for protecting your brain.Mentioned in The EpisodeDownload the RESTORED ProtocolDownload The First Steps Guide for supporting a parent after Alzheimer's diagnosisRelated EpisodesAlzheimer's Prevention: What the Cochrane Review MeansAlzheimer's Drugs: Why Amyloid Removal May Not Be EnoughGum Disease, Menopause & Your Alzheimer's RiskSourcesRESOURCES:Book a FREE Discovery Call with AmyDownload After Mom's Alzheimer's Diagnosis: The First 8 Things to Know and learn how to support her with more calm, clarity, and confidence.Download the RESTORED Protocol: Eight Essential Protective Factors to Build an Alzheimer's-Resistant BrainSchedule your Breakthrough Roadmap session with AmyFollow Amy on Instagram @amylangcoaching  and on Facebook @amylangcoachingSubscribe to Amy's YouTube channel @happyandhealthywithamy

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Nicola Lindson discuss emerging evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Jonathan Livingstone-Banks, University of Oxford, UK. Associate Professor Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Associate Professor Nicola Lindson discuss the new evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Dr Jonathan Livingstone-Banks lecturer & senior researcher in evidence-based healthcare in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford. Dr Livingstone-Banks is part of the Tobacco Addiction Group within the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. He carries out research in the field of tobacco control and evidence synthesis and is involved in many Cochrane Reviews on tobacco control topics. Dr Livingstone-Banks is also a philosopher interested in the philosophy of evidence-based healthcare. In the May podcast Jonathan Livingstone-Banks discusses the findings of his overview of systematic reviews on the impacts of e-cigarette flavours. This is set against the backdrop of the first market authorisation of non-menthol, non-tobacco flavoured e-cigarettes in the US. The overview of reviews includes 32 reviews, 11 of which are higher quality and 21 of lower quality, and covers 1967 primary studies. Jonathan Livingstone-Banks outlines how e-cigarette flavours have the potential to impact a range of outcomes including e-cigarette and combustible cigarette use, safety profile, appeal, and perceptions of harm and how these may differ across different population groups. Overall, he considers that the data on flavours is limited and the impacts of e-cigarette flavours on e-cigarette and cigarette use are inconclusive. Further studies are needed to shed more light on this topic. Reference for the overview of systematic reviews discussed in this podcast: Livingstone-Banks J, Travis N, Conde M, Chen Y(C), Zi P, Jarman H, et al. The impacts of e-cigarette flavours: An overview of systematic reviews. Addiction. 2025;120(7):1327-1344. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70017 This podcast is a companion to the electronic cigarettes Cochrane living systematic review and Interventions for quitting vaping review and shares the evidence from the monthly searches. Our searches for the EC for smoking cessation review carried out on 1st May 2026 found: 1 linked report (10.1186/s13063-026-09622-6). Our search for our interventions for quitting vaping review carried out on 1st May 2026 found: 1 new study (10.1016/j.acap.2026.103328) and 1 ongoing study (ACTRN12626000336381). For further details see our webpage under 'Monthly search findings': https://www.cebm.ox.ac.uk/research/electronic-cigarettes-for-smoking-cessation-cochrane-living-systematic-review-1 For more information on the full Cochrane review of E-cigarettes for smoking cessation updated in November 2025 see: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010216.pub10/full For more information on the full Cochrane review of Interventions for quitting vaping published in November 2025 see: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD016058.pub3/full

If your parent was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's, you may have heard about the latest Alzheimer's treatments - Kisunla and Lequembi - being described as breakthrough "disease-modifying" drugs.And yes, the science is promising in some ways.But here's the part most families are not told clearly: a drug may successfully remove amyloid from the brain and still not create a meaningful improvement in memory, thinking, reasoning, or day-to-day function.In this episode, Amy explains why.This is not medical advice. It is education designed to help you ask better questions, advocate more clearly, and make decisions with your eyes wide open.You'll learn what happens in the brain long before symptoms appear, why amyloid is only one part of the Alzheimer's disease process, and why tau, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration matter so much when you're trying to make informed decisions for someone you love.What to Listen For[00:00] Why amyloid removal may not translate into meaningful improvement. [02:00] What the Cochrane review found about anti-amyloid drugs. [04:30] Why memory problems are not the beginning of Alzheimer's. [07:00] The Alzheimer's disease timeline. [10:00] Why treating amyloid after symptoms appear may be too late. [12:30] What tau does in healthy brain cells. [14:00] What tracks closely with cognitive decline. [16:30] What ARIA is and why it matters. [18:00] The role of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's.[22:00] Questions to ask the neurologist before deciding. Mentioned in the EpisodeAlzheimer's Prevention: What the Cochrane Review MeansCochrane Review: Anti-amyloid Alzheimer's drugs show no clinically meaningful effectListen now, subscribe to Happy & Healthy with Amy, and share this episode with someone who is trying to make sense of an Alzheimer's diagnosis in their family.RESOURCES:Book a FREE Discovery Call with AmyDownload After Mom's Alzheimer's Diagnosis: The First 8 Things to Know and learn how to support her with more calm, clarity, and confidence.Schedule your Breakthrough Roadmap session with AmyFollow Amy on Instagram @amylangcoaching  and on Facebook @amylangcoachingSubscribe to Amy's YouTube channel @happyandhealthywithamy

Five longevity beliefs that millions have followed for decades have just been overturned by the latest research. Some of these will surprise you.In this explainer, Robert Lufkin MD walks through five of the most widely believed longevity myths — and what the most recent science actually says about each one. From genetics and middle age to antioxidants, alcohol, and caloric restriction, the evidence has shifted dramatically.CHAPTERS:00:00 — Introduction00:32 — Myth 1: Your Genes Determine How Long You Live01:51 — Myth 2: It's Too Late to Change After Middle Age03:24 — Myth 3: Antioxidant Supplements Prevent Disease05:22 — Myth 4: Moderate Alcohol Is Good for You07:04 — Myth 5: Caloric Restriction Is King08:50 — The Real Framework: Quality Beats Quantity09:18 — Final TakeawayKEY TAKEAWAYS:• Genetics accounts for at most 25–50% of how long you live• Quitting smoking before 40 eliminates ~90% of excess mortality risk• Antioxidant supplements have no benefit and may increase mortality• The protective J-curve for moderate alcohol disappears once you correct for the "sick quitter" effect• Caloric restriction's primate magic was rescuing animals from a high-sugar control diet• Diet quality matters more than diet quantitySTUDIES & SOURCES MENTIONED:• Herskind et al., Human Genetics 1996 — 2,872 Danish twin pairs heritability of longevity• Jha et al., NEJM 2013 — 21st-century smoking cessation and life expectancy• Saint-Maurice et al., JAMA Network Open 2019 — Adult life-course physical activity and mortality• Bjelakovic et al., Cochrane 2012 — Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality• Zhao et al., JAMA Network Open 2023 — Daily alcohol intake and all-cause mortality meta-analysis• Mattison et al., Nature Communications 2017 — Caloric restriction in rhesus monkeys (NIA / Wisconsin reconciliation)⭐ Enjoying the show? Please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 30 seconds and helps more people discover the science of health and longevity. Thank you!New episodes every Tuesday & Thursday. Subscribe so you don't miss one.Continue this conversation on Substack: https://robertlufkinmd.substack.comLies I Taught In Medical School — Free sample chapter: https://www.robertlufkinmd.com/lies/Web: https://www.robertlufkinmd.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/robertlufkinmdX: https://x.com/robertlufkinmdInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertlufkinmd/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@robertlufkinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertlufkinmd/

The review embargo lifted today for The Mandalorian and Grogu, and the bag is more than a little mixed. Critics are either praising the film for its fun action adventure nature of the bounty hunter and his foundling or others are saying the film does not live up to the iconography that Lucasfilm and Star Wars is known for as well as having too small of a story for the big screen. With this being the first Star Wars film in seven years, a lot is likely riding on the performance of Din Djarin and Din Grogu. Ebon Moss-Bachrach has been quietly dishing details on not only Avengers: Doomsday but Secret Wars across his various media appearances in recent days. On Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, the Thing actor admitted the Doomsday script he read didn't have a finished third act saying, "I don't think it had an ending,” and described the production as so compartmentalized and "interstellar" that he'd repeatedly go back to Joe Russo to have the multiverse threading re-explained. Then in a separate chat with the Dog Day Afternoon Broadway team, a play based on the 1975 film the actor is performing in, he casually dropped that Secret Wars filming kicks off in August 2026, right after his stage run wraps in mid-July.HBO set August 16 as the premiere date for Lanterns and dropped a new trailer that complicates the show's dark, earth-based mystery pitch with shots of Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan in the classic Green Lantern uniform and what appears to be an off-world setting. The trailer also confirms Nathan Fillion is reprising his role as Guy Gardner and reveals Laura Linney in an undisclosed part opposite Aaron Pierre's John Stewart. Matt Reeves used a series of X posts last week to officially welcome Brian Tyree Henry and Sebastian Koch to Gotham for The Batman: Part II. They join the previously confirmed additions of Scarlett Johansson as Gilda Dent, Sebastian Stan as Harvey Dent, and Charles Dance as Harvey's father Christopher. Henry, a Marvel alum from Eternals who also memorably appeared in 2019's Joker, marks his second trip into the DC sandbox, while Koch is known for his prestige work appearing in films like Bridge of Spies. Michael continued another strong run at the box office this weekend and has now crossed $700 million dollars worldwide while the Devil Wears Prada 2 also continued its solid streak, crossing the $500 million dollar mark internationally. Mortal Kombat 2 crossed the $100 million dollar mark in its second weekend. Horror film Obsession opened very well with $23 million dollars worldwide, a big opening for a film from a first time director acquired out of a film festival. Marvel is making some changes to leadership in its comics division. The company has promoted Brad Winderbaum, already its chief of television and animation, to head of Marvel television, animation, comics and franchise. At the same time, David Abdo, former manager of Disney's music division, will transition to serve as Marvel's general manager, comics and franchise, reporting to Winderbaum. With the new top leadership coming in, that means that Dan Buckley, the longtime Marvel Comics head, is departing. Buckley will remain at Marvel through mid-2027 to support the leadership transition.HBO's Harry Potter series will already be recasting a role as production begins on season 2. Actress Gracie Cochrane, who portrays Ginny Weasley in the upcoming season 1 will not return for Season 2 of the series due to 'unforeseen circumstances,' Cochrane and her family revealed in a statement.Disney+ has begun development on Ella Enchanted, a TV series based on the 2004 Miramax fairytale film of the same name that starred Anne Hathaway, who will return to produce the series. Anyone But You writer Ilana Wolpert will serve as showrunner.A final look trailer for Prime's Spider-Noir, starring Nicholas Cage, was dropped today. 

Justin Cochrane is one of elite football's most respected coaches and a vital part of the England Men's backroom team. Justin's leadership focuses on reading a squad's emotional temperature and providing players the freedom to be themselves.In this episode, Justin shares the moving story of losing his wife Leeanne to cancer and how her selfless approach to her final days redefined his perspective. He discusses the "medicine" of football, explaining how returning to coaching weeks after her death provided the stability needed to carry immense grief while operating at the highest level.Justin also speaks to Jake and Damian about how personal trauma made him a better leader by shortening the gap between disappointment and recovery. From raising his three sons alone to preparing for a World Cup, Justin offers a masterclass in resilience, guided by Leeanne's final gift: the reminder to always have "someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to."Postcode Lottery

In this episode, Ray Cochrane breaks down a reversible conductive glue from Newcastle University that could replace solder and finally make electronics recycling work. Additional stories cover China widening its clean energy lead, DeepMind’s AlphaEvolve scoring wins from genomics to Google’s database, Anthropic’s $200 million partnership with the Gates Foundation, Intel teaming up with McLaren Racing, and end-to-end encrypted RCS rolling out in beta. – Want to start a podcast? Its easy to get started! Sign-up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens the show with a deep dive into Newcastle University’s reversible conductive glue, a water-based adhesive that could finally make electronics recycling economically viable. He frames the e-waste problem first: 62 billion kilos a year, with less than a quarter ever recycled. Then he walks through the silver nanoparticle chemistry, the lead-free angle on traditional solder, and the geopolitical stakes of critical mineral recovery. From there the episode pivots through energy, AI, hardware, open source, data research, space, science, and consumer privacy. A Reversible Conductive Glue That Could Replace Solder A team at Newcastle University has developed a water-based glue that conducts electricity well enough to replace solder. Unlike solder, however, the glue releases cleanly with a quick rinse of acetone or an alkaline bath. The breakthrough relies on silver nanoparticles suspended in a water-based binder. Consequently, components can be recovered intact, opening a viable path to electronics recycling at scale. Co-investigator Volker Pickert framed the second prize directly: solder has the best conductivity, but the best formulations contain lead. China Widens Its Clean Energy Lead A new Atlas Public Policy report shows Chinese firms accounted for 55 percent of $1.1 trillion in global clean energy manufacturing investment between 2019 and 2025. Battery manufacturing alone pulled in nearly half of that money. Meanwhile, U.S. companies have actively retreated from those same industries. With the Strait of Hormuz currently closed, supply chain ownership in solar, wind, and batteries matters more than ever. A separate Ember analysis showed Chinese solar panel exports doubled in March alone. DeepMind’s AlphaEvolve Scores Real Wins DeepMind published an update on AlphaEvolve, its Gemini-powered AI coding agent. The system cut genomic variant detection errors by 30 percent. Additionally, it lifted AC Optimal Power Flow feasibility from 14 to over 88 percent on the electrical grid. AlphaEvolve also found a better cache replacement policy in two days that would have taken human engineers months. Furthermore, it reduced write amplification in Google’s Spanner database by 20 percent. The pattern shows applied AI sticking, not as a chatbot but as a quiet optimizer. Anthropic and Gates Foundation Commit $200 Million Anthropic announced a four-year, $200 million partnership with the Gates Foundation across three pillars. The biggest pillar targets global health and life sciences in low and middle-income countries. Notably, the research scope includes polio, HPV, and preeclampsia. A second pillar covers AI in education across the U.S., sub-Saharan Africa, and India, in partnership with the Global AI for Learning Alliance. Finally, an economic mobility pillar focuses on agricultural productivity and crop benchmarks. Google’s AI Educator Series Launches Free Google rolled out the first 20-plus sessions of its AI Educator Series this week. The free AI literacy training targets the roughly 6 million K-12 and higher education teachers across the U.S. Modules are designed as short, snackable trainings teachers can finish in a prep period or a lunch break. Additionally, stackable workshops let educators build credentials over time. Importantly, the program requires no institutional subscription. Amazon Bedrock Prompt Optimization Goes GA Amazon Bedrock dropped its Advanced Prompt Optimization tool, now generally available across most major regions. The feature rewrites prompts to perform better on specific models and automates prompt migration when switching between models. Furthermore, a built-in evaluation feedback loop lets users benchmark against up to five models side by side. The default judge model is Claude Sonnet 4.6. Consequently, teams can stop hand-tuning string templates and focus on product work. Sponsor: GoDaddy Economy hosting $6.99/month, WordPress hosting $12.99/month, domains $11.99. Website builder trial available. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy to support the show. Arm AGI CPU and Red Hat Go Production-Ready on Agentic AI Arm and Red Hat expanded their collaboration around Arm’s AGI CPU, which is Arm’s branding for its agentic AI chip family. The deal brings Red Hat Enterprise Linux and OpenShift to the chip as a production-ready stack. Hardware specifications include 136 Neoverse V3 cores, 96 PCIe Gen6 lanes, and 12 channels of DDR5-8800 memory in a 300-watt thermal envelope. Availability lands in Q4 through Supermicro, Lenovo, and ASRock Rack. Intel Becomes McLaren Racing’s Official Compute Partner Intel announced a multi-year deal as the official compute partner for McLaren Racing. The agreement covers the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 team, Arrow McLaren IndyCar, and McLaren F1 Sim Racing. Trackside edge compute will power real-time race decisions, while Xeon and Core Ultra silicon drive Computational Fluid Dynamics and digital twin work. Consequently, design iterations that once took weeks now collapse to days. The deal puts Intel silicon in front of every CTO watching a Grand Prix. Rust Lands 13 Google Summer of Code Projects The Rust Project landed 13 accepted projects in Google Summer of Code 2026. Out of 96 proposals, a 50 percent jump from last year, the project selected 13. Notably, three returning contributors from prior years are back. Mentors flagged a noticeable share of AI-generated submissions as a growing challenge. Furthermore, the real bottleneck remains mentor capacity rather than funding. GitHub Innovation Graph Maps Digital Complexity Researchers used GitHub Innovation Graph data to predict GDP, inequality, and emissions through the Economic Complexity Index, or ECI. Countries are compared to kitchens; the more variety and sophistication in software output, the higher the score. Germany ranks first, followed by Australia and Canada. The U.S. lands at sixth. However, the dataset only captures public GitHub activity, leaving most proprietary software invisible. NASA and Eta Space Prepare Cryogenic Fuel Demo NASA is teaming with Eta Space on an in-orbit demonstration called LOXSAT, short for Liquid Oxygen Flight Demonstration. The nine-month mission tests cryogenic fluid management techniques required for in-space propellant depots. Launch is no earlier than July 17 aboard a Rocket Lab Electron from the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. Successful refueling in orbit could reshape what is possible for deep-space missions to the Moon and Mars. Stealth Magma Surge Under São Jorge Surprises Researchers Researchers in the UK and Spain published in Nature Communications on a 2022 magma surge under São Jorge Island in the Azores. The surge climbed from more than 20 kilometers underground to 1.6 kilometers below the surface. Surprisingly, most of the thousands of earthquakes happened after the magma stalled, not during the climb. Consequently, scientists are calling it a stealth surge and a failed eruption. A primed magma chamber now sits closer to the surface than before. End-to-End Encrypted RCS Begins Rolling Out Apple and Google led a cross-industry effort to roll out end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging. As of May 11, the feature is rolling out in beta on both platforms. Importantly, encryption is on by default and auto-applies to new and existing conversations. A lock icon in the chat indicates active end-to-end encryption. This quietly raises baseline privacy for billions of cross-platform messages. Cochrane signs off with the usual ecosystem mentions: GNC Insider at geeknewscentral.com/insider, the show newsletter, and modern podcast app recommendations at podcastapps.com. The post A Reversible Glue that could Replace Solder #1865 appeared first on Geek News Central.

  In this episode, Ray Cochrane leads with Mozilla shipping Firefox 150 with 271 patched bugs found by Anthropic’s Mythos system, the first major real-world deployment of the AlphaGo-Moment cybersecurity tooling. He also covers a 9-year dormant Linux kernel root, a college student stopping Taiwan’s high-speed rail with a software-defined radio, GitHub MCP secret scanning going GA, the NVIDIA NeMo lawsuit surviving its motion to dismiss, the Hugging Face Reachy Mini app store, Anthropic’s Auto Mode for Claude Code, and the 4-gigabyte AI model Chrome silently installed on your computer. – Want to start a podcast? Its easy to get started! Sign-up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens the show with the AlphaGo Moment moving from theory into production. Mozilla shipped Firefox 150 this week with 271 patched bugs that Anthropic’s Mythos system found. Furthermore, the broader episode threads a clear pattern: AI tooling is reshaping security, developer workflows, and consumer software faster than the surrounding ecosystem can absorb it. The show closes on the four-gigabyte AI model Chrome installed on a billion machines without explicit consent. Mozilla Ships 271 Mythos Bugs in Firefox 150 Mozilla ran Anthropic’s restricted Mythos system against the Firefox 150 codebase before shipping. The result: 271 found bugs (180 high severity, 80 moderate, 11 low) baked into the release. However, the bigger number is the year-over-year jump. April 2026 shipped 423 total Firefox security fixes versus 31 a year prior. The breakdown for April: 271 from Mythos, 41 from external researchers, and 111 from other internal sources. Cochrane is sticking to his guns on calling this the AlphaGo Moment for cybersecurity. Skeptics argue Mythos is industrial-scale fuzzing because most found bugs sit in memory-safety territory. However, his counter is the velocity itself. Furthermore, he frames the resistance as carriage-versus-cars: humans-first research still grounds the tool, but throughput is the win. The Firefox CTO put it directly: defenders finally have a chance to win, decisively. For developers asking whether Mythos changes anything if they already run fuzzers, Cochrane’s answer is yes, and not even close. Additionally, he notes Mythos is restricted-access. The broadly available tier is Claude Opus 4.7, which Mozilla used since February before getting onto the restricted program for the Firefox 150 cycle. Run Opus 4.7 first. Sponsor: GoDaddy GoDaddy has been sponsoring this show for over twenty years. Economy hosting starts at $6.99/month, WordPress hosting at $12.99/month, and domains at $11.99. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy for exclusive deals and to directly support the show. Copy Fail: 9-Year Linux Kernel Bug, 732 Bytes to Root A 9-year-old dormant Linux kernel bug got disclosed April 29 as CVE-2026-31431. Researchers published a 732-byte Python script that roots every major Linux distribution shipped since 2017. Additionally, CISA added the CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on May 1 with a May 15 federal deadline. The bug lives in the kernel’s crypto socket layer through the AF_ALG AEAD interface, originating in a 2017 in-place crypto optimization that lacked bounds checking. Cloudflare published their post-mortem this week. Their first instinct was to remove the kernel module entirely. However, service dependencies forced a workaround instead. Cloudflare resumed normal patched-kernel reboot automation across their 330-city fleet on May 4, with manual reboots and rollouts continuing after. Taiwan Rail Stopped by a 23-Year-Old With a Software-Defined Radio A 23-year-old Taiwanese university student with the surname Lin spoofed a TETRA general alarm signal on April 5, stopping trains on Taiwan’s high-speed rail. The accomplice supplied the radio parameters. Both were arrested by month-end. Lin posted NT$100,000 bail; the accomplice posted NT$80,000. The incident hit at 11:23 PM during the Qingming holiday weekend, stopping three revenue passenger trains plus one deadhead. Furthermore, the system has been in service for 19 years without rotating its cryptographic parameters once. Cochrane notes this is exactly the type of long-dormant infrastructure flaw that Mythos-class tooling catches, if anyone bothers to point it at the wires we already have. GitHub MCP Secret Scanning Goes GA GitHub’s secret scanning in the MCP server hit GA on May 5, with dependency scanning entering public preview the same day. Both released after a seven-week public preview run starting March 17. Additionally, the feature lets MCP-compatible coding agents (Copilot CLI, VS Code, JetBrains, Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf) detect exposed secrets before commits or pull requests. Findings are ephemeral. They surface only in the current chat session and don’t persist as GitHub alerts. Sources disagree on scope: GitHub’s GA changelog says repo-level or org-level settings work, while the docs say only org-level applies. Cochrane flags the open question of whether MCP prompt injections could be exploited to send discovered secrets elsewhere. Subquadratic Debuts a 12-Million-Token Context Window Miami-based Subquadratic emerged from stealth on May 5 with a $29 million seed round and a reported $500 million valuation. Their model, SubQ 1M-Preview, runs on a new Subquadratic Sparse Attention architecture (their technical writeup calls it Selective Attention; same acronym, different second word). The headline claim: a thousand-times reduction in attention compute at 12 million tokens versus frontier models. However, that figure is vendor marketing math. There is no peer-reviewed paper, no public weights, and no independent benchmark replication. Researchers are demanding independent proof. Furthermore, CTO Alex Whedon’s pull line, “Retrieval / RAG plumbing is a waste of human intelligence,” signals how aggressively they want to position against retrieval-augmented architectures. ChatGPT Goblins, China’s “Catch You Steadily”: Sycophancy Is Universal Last week’s ChatGPT goblin obsession has a Chinese-language twin. The model overuses a phrase translating as “I will steadily catch you.” Additionally, a new Stanford and CMU study called ELEPHANT shows social sycophancy is universal across all 11 LLMs tested with 2,400-plus participants. Models endorsed users 49 percent more than humans did, and 47 percent even on harmful prompts. Alibaba’s Qwen and DeepSeek topped the rankings. Cochrane notes sycophancy is obvious once you’re aware of it but tricky to dissuade. Even with explicit instructions, longer context windows can reintroduce the behavior as the instructions get diluted. Furthermore, the trap is believing you’ve handled it. Once you think you’ve got it under control, you’re more prone to being influenced because you stopped watching for it. NVIDIA NeMo Lawsuit: Judge Tigar Denies Motion to Dismiss Three authors filed Nazemian v. NVIDIA in March 2024, alleging NVIDIA used The Pile and Books3 (approximately 196,640 pirated books) to train its NeMo AI framework. NVIDIA’s defense relied on the Sony v. Universal Betamax doctrine, arguing NeMo’s training scripts are general-purpose tools like a VCR. This week, Judge Tigar denied NVIDIA’s motion to dismiss in the Northern District of California. The headline quote: NeMo’s training scripts “have no other purpose than to speed up the process of infringement.” Furthermore, the judge rejected the VCR analogy outright. NeMo’s scripts are not general-purpose tools; they were allegedly purpose-built to ingest pirated material. Cochrane reads the Betamax framing as legal-jargon arbitrage rather than honest defense. The Humanoid Robot Market Is Smaller Than the Hype Michael Barnard at CleanTechnica argues that scenario-math against the global labor market puts realistic humanoid TAM at $200 billion to $1 trillion, not $20 trillion. Near-term wins cluster in warehouses, not homes. Additionally, the framework weighs dexterity burden against human-proximity safety burden. Real opportunities cluster where both burdens are low. Cochrane connects this to last week’s reservations about humanoids in the household. Furthermore, the risk profile is the issue: these robots aren’t prepared for every scenario, can’t make dynamic decisions, and one software update can change the definition of “safe.” Hugging Face Launches Reachy Mini App Store Hugging Face launched an open-source app store for the Reachy Mini robot this week, $299 for the Lite tethered version and $449 wireless. There are 200-plus community-built apps at launch from over 150 creators, with nearly 10,000 Reachy Minis cumulative shipped. Additionally, apps are forkable, with the default agent (ML Intern) able to modify, write, test, and ship code on any existing app. Examples at launch include an office receptionist built in under two hours, a Reachy Phone Home anti-procrastination app, baby-monitor-style apps, a cooking assistant, and a 78-year-old Joel Cohen’s voice-controlled CEO peer-group app. Pollen Robotics, the company behind Reachy, was acquired by Hugging Face on April 14, 2025. Bebop the Humanoid Robot Delays Southwest Flight 1568 A 4-foot, 70-pound humanoid robot named Bebop delayed Southwest flight 1568 from Oakland to San Diego by more than 73 minutes on April 30. The crew flagged the lithium battery as oversized. Furthermore, the battery was reportedly four times the cabin limit. Bebop belongs to Dallas-based Elite Event Robotics, which bought a full-price cabin ticket because the robot exceeded checked-baggage weight. Bebop danced for passengers at the gate before boarding. However, Southwest had Elite remove the batteries before departure, and replacements were overnighted to Chicago for the next event. Cochrane flags the obvious: batteries have always been flagged in aviation, so forgetting that with a humanoid robot in tow is a strange miss. Ouster Rev8: Native Color Lidar With Google, Volvo, Skydio Stating Intent Ouster announced the Rev8 OS Family on May 4 in San Francisco. The sensors fuse depth and color via SPAD detectors (single photon avalanche diodes) on Ouster’s custom L4 and L4 Max chips. Google, Volvo Autonomous Solutions, Skydio, Liebherr, Epiroc, and PlusAI have stated intent to adopt, though nothing is formally signed. Specs include 48-bit color, 116 dB dynamic range, and pre-fused 3D colorized point clouds. The OS1 Max gets 500-meter max detection. Available to order today and shipping this quarter, with no pricing disclosed. CEO Angus Pacala in his TechCrunch interview: “The goal is to obviate cameras. There’s no reason that one sensor can’t do both.” TagTinker Lets a Flipper Zero Mess With Electronic Shelf Labels A new Flipper Zero app called TagTinker uses infrared signals to push images and text to electronic shelf labels. Additionally, these are the same kind of price tags grocery chains are starting to use for surveillance pricing. The app and GitHub repo went public this week. Maryland’s HB 895, signed by Governor Wes Moore, takes effect October 1 as the first-in-nation surveillance pricing law. It covers food retailers and third-party food delivery service providers. Furthermore, ESLs use the same IR signaling as TV remotes with weak security. The dev’s disclaimer states it’s strictly for educational research, security curiosity, and displaying digital art on hardware you legally own. Fitbit App Becomes Google Health, Plus Fitbit Air, Plus Google Fit Sunset Google announced May 7 that the Fitbit app becomes Google Health on May 19, rolling through May 26. The launch ships with the new $99.99 Fitbit Air screenless tracker and the long-rumored Google Fit shutdown. Additionally, the four-tab interface (Today, Fitness, Sleep, Health) bundles a Gemini-powered AI Health Coach. Coach is premium-gated at $9.99/month or $99/year. Medical records integration is US-only at launch. The Fitbit Air gets up to one week of battery life and 50-meter water resistance. However, Cochrane flags conflicting privacy framing: Google’s AI summary bullets say “your data stays private,” but the actual document copy says only “committed to not using Fitbit user health and wellness data for Google Ads.” Those are not the same statement. Russinovich on Why Win32 Won and WinRT Didn’t Microsoft Azure CTO Mark Russinovich said via Microsoft Dev Docs video that Win32, the 1995 API, is still foundational to Windows 11. WinRT, the modernization replacement, “didn’t play out the way a lot of people expected.” Mostly clickbait framing per Windows Latest, but the substantive angle is real. Microsoft is pivoting back to native WinUI 3 development after years of pushing developers toward WebView2 and Electron. Additionally, Electron-based apps are known for insane RAM usage, and everyone is hurting for RAM right now. Furthermore, the bigger open question is whether Electron survives the test of time, especially with the React engine reportedly being rewritten in Rust. “Tabula Plena”: The Brain Starts Full, Not Blank A Nature Communications study from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria found that the mouse hippocampal CA3 recurrent network begins densely connected and refines through pruning. ISTA’s press release frames this as “tabula plena,” meaning full slate, counter to tabula rasa. The paper published April 21. First author Victor Vargas-Barroso and senior author Professor Peter Jonas studied mice at three developmental stages. Furthermore, the “starting overloaded enables faster sensory integration” framing is Jonas’s hypothesis from the press release, not a paper conclusion. Cochrane closes on the bigger question: did we have human growth and experience mapped wrong from the start? The Aqueous Battery You Can Pour Down the Drain A Chinese research team led by Professor Chunyi Zhi at City University of Hong Kong built an aqueous battery using a custom organic polymer electrode plus neutral magnesium and calcium salts (food-grade tofu coagulants) as electrolyte. Published in Nature Communications on February 18. Numbers to know: 120,000-plus charge cycles, full-cell energy density of 48.3 watt-hours per kilogram. That’s well below typical lithium-ion. However, post-cycling analysis showed only magnesium, calcium, chlorine, carbon, and copper, with no heavy metals. The cell complies with US RCRA, ISO 14001, and China’s GB 18599-2020 for direct environmental disposal. Additionally, the “300-plus years” framing is journalists extrapolating from the 120,000 cycles, not a paper claim. ResoNix Klippel Tests Expose Car-Audio Spec Lies Nick Apicella, founder of ResoNix Sound Solutions in Stony Point, New York, spent around $23,000 on independent Klippel LSI and TRF testing of 40 subwoofers. He published 21 results showing widespread misrepresentation of Xmax (excursion) and thermal/power-handling claims. Test data published in three batches between December 2025 and January 2026. Specifics: Wavtech thinPRO12 claimed 20 mm of excursion but delivered 8.85 mm, scoring 15 out of 100 on marketing accuracy. One driver hit 44 percent of advertised excursion. Another tripped thermal protection at half its rated power. Additionally, nine of 21 drivers scored below 50 out of 100. Brands tested include JL Audio, Sundown, Focal, Morel, Audiofrog, Adire, Stereo Integrity, and Dynaudio. Conflict-of-interest flag: ResoNix’s own GUS-15, 12, and 10 prototypes conveniently rank one, two, three. JetBrains Opens 2026 Developer Ecosystem Survey JetBrains opened the 10th annual Developer Ecosystem Survey this week. It takes about 30 minutes, with prizes including a MacBook Pro 16-inch and a $1,000 Amazon gift card. Anonymized raw data is published publicly, and cumulative scale is 100,000-plus developers across recent years. Additionally, the survey is going fully anti-AI: “evil bots, dishonest respondents, and AI agents will be excluded from prize distribution.” Cochrane is curious whether TypeScript holds its 2025 crown after knocking Python off, and whether Rust shows real growth given the wave of LLM-driven Rust rewrites in the past few months. Anthropic’s Claude Code Auto Mode Goes Live Anthropic launched Auto Mode for Claude Code roughly six weeks ago. Claude Code’s previous behavior required user approval for most file modifications and command executions, generating heavy approval-fatigue complaints during longer sessions. Auto Mode is the answer: Claude can run multi-step development tasks without per-action approval. Additionally, the architecture is a two-stage classifier, with stage one a fast yes/no filter and stage two doing chain-of-thought on flagged actions. Cochrane runs his own Claude Code in YOLO mode but with custom rejection rules baked into settings to block commands he doesn’t want, even with skip-permissions on. He recommends configuring settings as the actual policy layer rather than relying on classifier judgment alone. Furthermore, recent posts about Claude deleting websites or wiping production databases reinforce why the settings layer matters more than the auto-mode toggle. Chrome Quietly Installed a 4GB AI Model on Your Computer Google Chrome silently downloads on-device AI model weights (Gemini Nano family) to a `weights.bin` file in the OptGuideOnDeviceModel directory, around four gigabytes in Alexander Hanff’s audit. Furthermore, the model re-downloads if you delete it. Hanff timed his own install at 14 minutes 28 seconds on macOS. Affected platforms include Windows, macOS (including Apple Silicon), and Linux. Hanff frames this as a multi-front legal violation: a direct breach of Europe’s ePrivacy Directive, two articles of GDPR, and an environmental harm of a magnitude that would be notifiable under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. At one billion users, the four-gigabyte distribution represents roughly 240 gigawatt-hours of network and storage energy paired with about 60,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions. However, no EU regulator action or formal complaint has surfaced as of this episode. The model powers on-device features (email writing, scam detection, summarization, smart paste, tab grouping) but not the visible AI Mode button, which routes to the cloud. To disable, Cochrane recommends Chrome Settings, then System, then On-device AI, toggle to off. Two more paths exist via `chrome://flags` or a Windows registry edit. Cochrane closes the show with show housekeeping: GNC Insider at geeknewscentral.com/insider, email at geeknews@gmail.com, newsletter signup at geeknewscentral.com, and Pocket Casts as a solid modern podcast app pick. Have a wonderful night. The post Mozilla Meets Mythos #1864 appeared first on Geek News Central.

In this episode, Ray Cochrane leads with GitHub’s worst reliability month on record and the AI infrastructure pressure behind it. He also covers Warp going open source, Apple’s Mac supply crunch, OpenAI’s goblin tic, the first 1X humanoid factory in the US, Tesla’s Semi finally hitting mass production, Chinese EVs with movie-projecting headlights, the final GPS III satellite, and a quantum researcher who won 1 Bitcoin. – Want to start a podcast? Its easy to get started! Sign-up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens the show with one of the biggest infrastructure stories of the year. GitHub is buckling under unprecedented agentic load, and the world’s largest code host just had its worst reliability month on record. Furthermore, the broader episode threads a clear pattern: AI demand is reshaping infrastructure, hardware supply, and developer tooling in ways the industry did not see coming. GitHub’s Worst Reliability Month on Record GitHub CTO Vlad Fedorov posted an apology on the company blog this week. He acknowledged the platform’s recent failures and committed to a new priority order: availability first, then capacity, then features. Meanwhile, an April 23 merge queue regression silently produced wrong squash commits across 658 repositories and over 2,000 pull requests. Additionally, an Elasticsearch cluster crashed on April 27 after a botnet attack, and GitHub Actions went down on April 28. Outside reconstructions put April uptime under 85 percent. However, GitHub’s own status page stays in the 99 percent range because it does not count degraded performance as downtime. Cochrane notes that GitHub originally planned a 10x capacity increase and has now revised that to 30x in eight months. Mitchell Hashimoto, GitHub user 1299 since 2008, also announced he is pulling his Ghostty terminal off the platform entirely. Warp Terminal Goes Open Source Under AGPL Warp open-sourced its AI-first terminal client this week under the AGPL license. Their contribution model leans heavily on agents handling code, planning, and testing while humans focus on direction and verification. However, Cochrane pushes back on that framing. He argues the recent GitHub problems show that human approval alone is not enough oversight for agent-driven workflows. Additionally, he notes that the more hands-off developers get, the less they can mentally model their own systems. Apple Caught Flat-Footed by Local AI Demand Tim Cook told Wall Street on the Q2 FY2026 earnings call that Mac mini and Mac Studio supply will be constrained for several months. Both machines turned out to be popular local AI workstations, which Apple did not predict. Consequently, Apple discontinued the 512GB Mac Studio upgrade in early March and raised the 256GB upgrade by $400. Some upgraded configurations now show 4 to 5 month delivery estimates. Cochrane connects the demand spike to the OpenClaw wave and his own recent OpenClaw scare, where his install started making suspicious outbound requests. Furthermore, he is in no rush to lean into local agentic tooling given the constant prompt injection and security issues in the space. OpenAI Explains the Goblin Obsession After GPT-5.1 launched, ChatGPT users noticed the model could not stop saying “goblin.” OpenAI traced the bias to the optional Nerdy personality, which was 2.5 percent of all responses but produced 66.7 percent of all goblin mentions. The reward signal during personality training quietly favored creature metaphors. Then the bias leaked into the rest of the model through later supervised fine-tuning. OpenAI retired Nerdy in March, filtered creature words from training data, and added an explicit Codex system prompt rule: never talk about goblins, gremlins, raccoons, trolls, ogres, or pigeons. Cochrane frames this as the beauty and disaster of pattern matching. Additionally, he notes that LLM behavior is not editable like static code; it can only be patched, and the patches stack up over time. Sponsor: GoDaddy GoDaddy has been sponsoring this show for over twenty years. Economy hosting starts at $6.99/month, WordPress hosting at $12.99/month, and domains at $11.99. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy for exclusive deals and to directly support the show. 1X Opens America’s First Vertically Integrated Humanoid Factory Bloomberg reports that 1X Technologies opened a 58,000 square foot humanoid robot factory in Hayward, California. The Norway-founded, OpenAI-backed company is calling it America’s first vertically integrated humanoid factory. Their goal: 10,000 NEO home humanoids in year one, with a 100,000 unit target by end of 2027. Furthermore, the first 10,000 unit allocation reportedly sold out in five days when pre-orders opened in October. NEO sells for $20,000 outright or $499 per month. Cochrane is skeptical that humanoids solve a real problem for the average household. However, he sees genuine potential for elderly and disabled users. Additionally, he flags privacy and data collection concerns about robots that have to perceive everything in your home. Tesla Semi Rolls Off the High-Volume Line Tesla rolled the first Semi off its 1.7 million square foot factory adjacent to Gigafactory Nevada on April 29. The Long Range version delivers 500 miles at $290,000, while the Standard Range hits 325 miles at $260,000. Additionally, the Long Range supports the 1.2 megawatt Megacharger that restores 60 percent of range in about 30 minutes. The factory targets 50,000 trucks per year, though analysts project 5,000 to 15,000 deliveries in 2026. Cochrane opens with a recent personal experience. He saw a semi truck on the freeway with the entire cabin removed from the engine, an unusual failure mode he had never seen before. Furthermore, he questions the actual environmental benefit of electric trucking given grid sourcing and battery mineral concerns. The reveal was 2017, and high-volume production is now nine years after that announcement. Chinese EVs With Headlights That Project Movies Huawei’s XPixel headlight system can now project full-color movies up to 100 inches in front of the car. The technology debuted in full color on the Aito M9 and is rolling out across Stelato S9, Qijing GT7, and Luxeed V9 MPV. Additionally, the same hardware powers real safety features: adaptive driving beam, lane-change path projection, and pedestrian crossing direction signaling. Meanwhile, US regulations only approved adaptive driving beam in February 2022. Pixel-addressable projection systems are not covered by current FMVSS rules at all. Consequently, even if these cars sold in the US, the headlights would have to be downgraded to be street legal. The Final GPS III Satellite Reaches Orbit SpaceX launched GPS III SV-10, the tenth and final GPS III satellite, on a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral on April 21. GPS III delivers signals 3 times more accurate and 8 times more resistant to jamming than the previous constellation. It also adds the L1C signal, which interoperates with Galileo, BeiDou, IRNSS, and QZSS, plus M-code military encryption. Up next, GPS IIIF launches start in 2027 with up to 22 satellites deploying through about 2037. IIIF adds laser inter-satellite links and optical reflectors for centimeter-level satellite tracking. Cochrane loves this kind of quiet infrastructure win that powers global economics without anyone noticing it. Researcher Wins 1 Bitcoin for a Quantum Attack on Crypto Independent Italian researcher Giancarlo Lelli won Project Eleven’s 1 Bitcoin Q-Day Prize on April 24. He derived a 15-bit elliptic curve private key from its public key using a variant of Shor’s algorithm on rented cloud quantum hardware. Furthermore, the previous record was 6 bits, set in September 2025 on an IBM 133-qubit machine, so this extends the record by a factor of 512. However, Bitcoin uses 256-bit elliptic curve cryptography, so real wallets are not at risk yet. Additionally, other researchers have pushed back on the result. Their criticism: a 15-bit search space is only 32,767 possibilities, which a laptop can brute-force in milliseconds. Project Eleven defends the milestone as a stepping stone for demonstrating Shor’s algorithm running end-to-end on real quantum hardware. Gemini Now Generates Real Files Google rolled out file generation for the Gemini app. Users can now generate PDFs, Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, Google Workspace files, CSV, LaTeX, plain text, RTF, and Markdown directly from a chat prompt. Additionally, files can be downloaded to device or exported straight to Google Drive. The feature is globally available to all Gemini app users. Google Illuminate Turns Papers Into Podcasts Google Illuminate is the experimental Labs tool that converts academic papers into roughly five-minute two-voice podcast-style audio. Generation takes about 30 seconds, with a 20-per-day cap and a 30-day library. Additionally, transcripts are interactive and clickable for jumping to specific moments. Cochrane likes it as an index for triaging papers but pushes back on using it to replace deep reading. He argues that real technical material like clustering logic needs a real read, not a summary by AI podcasters. Cochrane closes with show housekeeping and a callout to Pocket Casts and True Fans as solid modern podcast apps. Have a great night, and happy June. The post GitHub, Goblins, Ghostty, and GPS III #1863 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Have you seen the headlines about anti-amyloid Alzheimer's drugs showing “no clinically meaningful effect”? If some you love has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, that kind of headline can feel like a gut punch.But before you fall into the pit of despair — or pin your hopes on the next promising treatment — you need to about this essential tool called the hierarchy of evidence so you know how to interpret the evidence for yourself.In this episode, Amy breaks down the hierarchy of evidence, explains what the latest Cochrane review actually found, and shows you how to separate meaningful science from scary headlines and health influencer hype.What to Listen For00:00 — Why the latest anti-amyloid Alzheimer's drug headlines are so easy to misread 02:35 — The hierarchy of evidence: what it is, why it matters, and how it helps you spot hype 04:50 — Why animal studies can be useful—but should not be treated like proof of what happens in women 07:20 — The difference between correlation and causation, using Chanticleer the rooster as a very memorable example 09:05 — What the “moderate drinking is good for your heart” story teaches us about confounding variables 12:15 — Why GLP-1s and dementia risk are more complicated than the headlines suggest 14:30 — Mechanistic versus clinical evidence, and why something can make sense biologically but still fail in real life 16:10 — The difference between “statistically significant” and “clinically meaningful”—and why that distinction matters for Alzheimer's prevention 20:30 — What the Cochrane review actually found about anti-amyloid Alzheimer's drugs 27:45 — Why removing amyloid is not the same as preserving memory, independence, or quality of life 31:30 — The lifestyle habits that still offer the clearest, most empowering path for Alzheimer's preventionThe big takeaway? Don't let a headline—or an influencer—tell you what the evidence means. The better you understand the hierarchy of evidence, the easier it becomes to stay curious, grounded, and empowered.

Daraxonrasib, a first-in-class oral RAS inhibitor, nearly doubled overall survival versus chemotherapy in previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer, representing a potentially landmark advance in a historically difficult-to-treat disease. The antibody-drug conjugate datopotamab deruxtecan significantly improved progression-free and overall survival over chemotherapy in first-line triple-negative breast cancer, particularly for patients ineligible for immunotherapy. A Cochrane review of nearly 20,000 patients found anti-amyloid Alzheimer's therapies offer minimal clinically meaningful cognitive benefit while carrying meaningful safety risks, complicating their real-world use.

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In this episode, Ray Cochrane unpacks Anthropic’s Mythos model and the Treasury’s emergency meetings with Wall Street, then digs into Apple’s vibe-coding crackdown and a gaming-anxiety study that hit way too close to home. Also covered: Verge’s solid-state motorcycle, UBTech humanoid robot sales jumping 23-fold, Japan’s first osmotic power plant, Finland’s permanent nuclear waste vault, Ghostty landing in Ubuntu, Cloudflare’s EmDash CMS, and a Claude Code skill that talks like a caveman. – Want to start a podcast? It’s easy to get started! Sign up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens the show by framing Anthropic’s new Mythos model as the AlphaGo moment for cybersecurity. From there, the episode moves through Apple’s pushback against AI-generated apps, a gaming anxiety study with a deeply personal hook, a series of “first to ship” energy and robotics wins out of Finland, China, and Japan, and several developer-tool stories that show how quickly the economics of software are shifting. Mythos, the Detection Ceiling, and Wall Street’s Emergency Response Anthropic’s Mythos model has Wall Street rattled. Operating autonomously, Mythos found and demonstrated the exploitation of a 27-year-old TCP SACK bug in OpenBSD, an operating system famous for being one of the most security-focused on the planet. Per Anthropic’s red team, over 99% of the vulnerabilities Mythos has identified remain unpatched. The researchers’ conclusion is blunt: “the moat in AI cybersecurity is the system, not the model.” The policy response moved fast. On April 7th, Treasury Secretary Bessent and Fed Chair Jerome Powell pulled the CEOs of Goldman Sachs, Citi, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley into Treasury headquarters on short notice. All four banks are now testing Mythos internally. Treasury CIO Sam Corcos is also seeking direct access. Anthropic is gating distribution through Project Glasswing, a limited-access program with JPMorgan, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia. Cochrane comes down firmly behind Anthropic’s gated approach. Because a 5.1-billion-parameter open model can apparently recover the core analysis chain for the OpenBSD flaw, this capability is not locked behind Frontier Compute. He wants the critical infrastructure hardened before the public gets keys. However, he also notes the bigger lesson is about human wisdom: people offloading all their thinking to AI lose out on the wisdom that makes any of these tools genuinely useful. Apple Bans Vibe Coding Apps from the App Store Apple has been quietly pushing back against what people are calling “vibe coding” apps. Replit, Vibecode, and an app called Anything all run AI models on the phone and produce working software that runs inside the host app. Apple cites Guideline 2.5.2, in effect since 2017, which requires apps to be self-contained. Replit and Vibecode had their App Store updates blocked. Anything was pulled in late March, briefly restored on April 3rd, and then pulled the same day again. The forcing function is volume. App Store submissions jumped 84% in a single quarter as vibe coding tools flooded Apple’s review queue with AI-generated apps. Cochrane thinks Apple is justified, given the security issues swirling around the Vibe coding ecosystem. Even a beautiful diamond gets lost in a sea of sand, and that flood is exactly what Apple is trying to manage. The company behind Anything is now pivoting to iMessage, desktop, and Android. Playing Video Games to Win Is Linked to Higher Anxiety Cochrane gets personal on this one. Through high school and his early 20s, he was deeply addicted to League of Legends. His dad teased him about it constantly. In the last few years of that addiction, his body would go ice cold and shake every ranked match before. His partner identified it as a panic attack. The moment that happened, he quit. Today, he no longer shakes. The new study lines up with his experience. Researchers Kayleigh Watters and Mikael Rubin at Palo Alto University analyzed a publicly available database of 13,464 adult gamers, most of whom primarily played League of Legends. Players who game to win show higher generalized anxiety but actually play fewer hours, since performance pressure pushes them out. Players who game to relax show strong links between social anxiety avoidance and more hours played. The study appeared in the Journal of Affective Disorders. The headline framing of “playing to win makes you anxious” misses the point. The real finding is more interesting: gaming for avoidance and gaming for competition are both warning signs, for different reasons. Cochrane notes that the League of Legends community’s toxicity has been a running joke for years, and this study suggests the game’s structure may have been manufacturing the anxiety that fueled it. Sponsor: GoDaddy Economy hosting is $6.99/month, WordPress hosting is $12.99/month, and domains are $11.99. Both hosting plans include a free domain, professional email, and SSL certificate. Go to geeknewscentral.com/godaddy for the best pricing and to directly support this independent show. Verge Motorcycle: World’s First Production All-Solid-State Battery Cochrane filled his tank for $60 today, which made this story land especially hard. His mom has driven electric for years and patiently manages a 90-mile real-world range. The next-generation answer is already shipping. Verge Motorcycles, a Finnish company, is the first production vehicle of any kind with an all-solid-state battery. Their 2026 bikes ship in Q1 with a pack from Donut Lab, another Finnish outfit spun out of Verge. The numbers are bonkers. The pack delivers an energy density of 400 Wh/kg, roughly double that of current Tesla cells. It sustains 100kW charging, hits full charge in about 5 minutes in the lab and 12 minutes on the actual bike, and the long-range version covers 600 kilometers (about 370 miles) per charge. Toyota, QuantumScape, and Samsung SDI have all been telling us that solid-state is coming in 2027 to 2030. A Finnish motorcycle company shipping in Q1 2026 just embarrassed them all. UBTech Humanoid Robot Sales Jump 23-Fold UBTech dropped its 2025 annual earnings on April 1st. Humanoid robot revenue hit 820 million yuan, roughly $119 million USD, up 2,203% from 35.6 million yuan the year before. Unit sales went from 3 robots in 2024 to 1,079 in 2025. Shares jumped 14% on the announcement. The customer list is a real industrial deployment: BYD, Foxconn, Geely, FAW-Volkswagen, and Audi. The flagship is the Walker S2, with UBTech targeting 5,000 units in 2026 and 10,000 in 2027. Cochrane is honest about what this means. He does not think we are heading for an extinction event, but worker displacement is a real concern. The US has no universal income or universal healthcare. The people affected are not white-collar managers. They are everyday line workers who already make the least on the ladder. Work efficiency reportedly doubles when these robots arrive, which is a company-side win, but the humans they replace are not getting half a year of gardening leave to retrain. He invites the listener to take on this one directly. Japan Switches On Asia’s First Osmotic Power Plant In August 2025, Fukuoka’s Seawater Desalination Center quietly opened Asia’s first osmotic power facility. It generates about 880,000 kilowatt-hours per year, enough for roughly 220 homes. It is only the second operational osmotic plant in the world, after Mariager, Denmark, in 2023. Osmotic generation uses a salinity gradient: fresh water on one side of a membrane, salt water on the other, and the pressure difference spins a turbine. The clever part is what Fukuoka does with desalination brine. Instead of regular seawater, the plant uses concentrated brine left over from the desalination process. This amplifies the salt gradient and squeezes more energy out of the same membrane. The result is a closed-loop partnership: the desalination facility produces drinking water and leaves brine behind, the osmotic plant turns the brine into electricity, and that electricity runs the desalination facility. Every desalination plant on Earth produces brine, so if Fukuoka’s co-located model works, the same pattern could be replicated across hundreds of plants worldwide. Japan’s Luna Ring Solar Moon Proposal Goes Viral Again Shimizu Corporation’s Luna Ring concept is making the rounds again. The pitch: a 6,800-mile belt of solar panels around the Moon’s equator, beaming microwave power back to Earth. Project lead Tetsuji Yoshida has long argued that a full ring could eliminate fossil fuel dependence entirely. The proposal first surfaced in 2013, has no funding, no government endorsement, and no concrete cost estimate. Shimizu has not put any active development behind it. Cochrane finds the concept fun every time it resurfaces. However, this would have to be a worldwide effort in the truest sense, with treaties, a new generation of launch economics, and microwave power transmission at a scale nobody has demonstrated. Beaming the power back to Earth has always been one of the biggest practical holdbacks. The Luna Ring is inspirational, but not shipping. Finland’s Onkalo Nuclear Waste Vault Opens Finland’s Onkalo facility is the world’s first permanent deep geologic repository for spent nuclear fuel. Operated by Posiva, the facility is buried about 430 meters down in 1.9-billion-year-old bedrock. It is designed to hold up to 6,500 tons of spent fuel and operate until the 2120s. The construction costs about €1 billion, with operating and closure adding roughly €4 billion more before the program is done. The catch is that radioactivity remains dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years. Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, warned that the copper canisters will eventually corrode, with different scientific opinions on how fast. Geologic disposal remains “fraught with uncertainties,” and we have never validated an engineered system across a 100,000-year time frame. The bet is that the rock and copper outlast the radioactivity. Cochrane sees Onkalo as time-buying rather than a final answer. It is more of a bank holding spent fuel while science catches up. He prefers it to Japan’s ongoing approach of releasing tritium-treated water from Fukushima Daiichi into the Pacific, even though the dilution is well below WHO drinking water guidelines. Burying the waste in an insurmountable containment strikes him as the more honest answer to a problem nobody knows how to truly solve. Ghostty Terminal Lands in the Ubuntu Repos Ghostty 1.3.0 is now available in Ubuntu 26.04 LTS’s universe repository. The install is simply `sudo apt install ghostty`, no PPAs, no Snap, no Nix, no building from source. Ghostty was created by Mitchell Hashimoto, co-founder of HashiCorp. It is GPU-accelerated, uses native Swift on macOS and native GTK4 with libadwaita on Linux, and supports tabs, splits, profiles, ligatures, and the Kitty graphics protocol. Cochrane recently caught Hashimoto on a podcast, where he walked through his agentic coding workflow. Ghostty is being actively built using AI harnesses like Claude Code and Codex. Hashimoto told a story in which Codex fixed a six-month-old bug in 45 minutes, for a total API cost of $4.14. Personally, Cochrane uses WezTerm, but he is excited to see Ghostty become more widely available with a native UI rather than Electron. Borgo: Rethinking Go Using Rust Analytics India Magazine profiled Borgo, a programming language by developer Marco Sampellegrini (GitHub: alpacaaa). Borgo is statically typed with Rust-like syntax, but it compiles to Go and uses the Go runtime and garbage collector. It includes sum types (Option and Result), pattern matching, and full compatibility with existing Go packages. Notably, it removes Rust’s borrow checker and lifetimes entirely. Borgo is not new. It first appeared on Hacker News in 2023, with a RustLab talk in 2024. The 2026 angle is a renewed look at it through the lens of AI coding agents, since type-rich languages like Rust have been showing outsized productivity gains. Cochrane is a fan of Rust and stands by the borrow checker, but he enjoys these exploratory languages for what they reveal about what developers actually want. Caveman: A Claude Code Skill That Cuts 65% of Tokens Developer Julius Brussee built a Claude Code skill called Caveman that forces Claude to respond in stripped-down fragments. No articles, no “just,” no “really,” no pleasantries, no hedging. The tagline is “why use many token when few token do trick.” Across 10 real dev tasks, Caveman mode averaged 294 tokens per response, compared to 1,214 in normal mode. That is a 65% drop in output tokens. The project is MIT licensed with three intensity levels: lite, full, and ultra. Cochrane stumbled across the project online and shared it with a classmate who had been complaining about token costs. The classmate now insists that “the caveman is the only way to live.” Cochrane has not made the switch, but the bigger point lands. If a community plugin can cut 65% of tokens without correctness regressions, the labs are shipping verbose-by-default and charging users for the privilege. He suspects verbose output makes models feel more trustworthy, even when the token math says otherwise. Cloudflare Launches EmDash as a WordPress Successor Cloudflare released EmDash on April 9th, an open-source, MIT-licensed, TypeScript-based CMS pitched as the spiritual successor to WordPress. The big flex is that it was built in 60 days using AI coding agents. EmDash runs on Astro 6.0, either on Cloudflare’s edge platform or on a standard Node.js server. The plugin security model uses sandboxed Dynamic Workers with explicit permissions, addressing the architecture flaw that Cloudflare says causes 96% of WordPress vulnerabilities. Cochrane could not resist pointing out the irony of the name. The em dash has become the trademark giveaway that an AI was involved in writing. He has reservations about whether EmDash will succeed. WordPress is extremely hard to unseat, plenty of “WordPress killers” have come and gone, and the ecosystem is twenty-plus years deep. He is curious to see what comes next but not optimistic. Google Open-Sources the DESIGN.md Format Google Labs open-sourced the DESIGN.md format used by Stitch, their AI UI design tool. DESIGN.md is a declarative file capturing a project’s design system, colors, typography, and spacing in a way AI agents can read and apply. Cochrane has tried Stitch personally and finds it impressive at producing web designs. He has also seen DESIGN.md-style files already start appearing in repositories. He sees this kind of file becoming a new paradigm for agentic design, alongside robots.txt and llms.txt. However, he worries about a side effect. If everyone uses the same standardized format and the same AI tools, the web could become a homogeneous set of sites that all look the same. He is enthusiastic about the standardization but hopes designers continue to push for genuinely unique work. A 13-Liter PC With a Water Loop Built Into the Case Geeky Gadgets covered a build by “Visual Thinker”, a 13-liter mini-ITX case with custom SLA-printed water distribution plates built directly into the chassis. Instead of traditional soft tubing, plates channel coolant between the CPU and GPU blocks and are sealed with TPU and silicone molds. The case supports a full-size GPU and an SFX power supply. No thermal benchmarks, parts list, or pricing have been published. It is a one-off you cannot buy. Cochrane sees this as a sign of where PC building has gone in 2026. Modern mid-grade GPUs run nearly every recent game, so raw performance is no longer the differentiator. He likes seeing builders lean into design and craft rather than just stuffing the most powerful parts into a box. He admits he is the traditional type and built his own machine to maximize parts, but the design-first direction is a healthy evolution for the hobby. To close out the show, Cochrane recommends Pocket Casts as a podcast app. He finds it picks up new episodes very quickly. Big thanks to GoDaddy for over twenty years of keeping this show on the air, and a reminder that every promo code use is like writing a check to the show. The post Mythos: Cybersecurity’s AlphaGo Moment #1862 appeared first on Geek News Central.

How can I just be in the sensing of my life and the experiences that I have, rather than having to wrestle and fight those?” – Cindy Murray We are thrilled to have beloved Hoffman teacher and coach, Cindy Murray, as our guest today. Cindy responds to Drew’s question – Why the Process? – sharing a few reasons. Cindy had been very successful in her career as a psychotherapist and educator. After suffering a traumatic brain injury, Cindy was shaken. She’d relied heavily on her intellect in her career for success. How would she move forward now with this brain injury? Cindy also found herself “in a conundrum within.” She’d grown up in a loving home with all her needs met. Her parents didn’t discuss feelings, but they were a beautiful, loving couple. Their marriage was Cindy’s role model for relationships, one that lasted more than 50 years. Then, Cindy fell deeply in love with a woman after being married to a man for about 10 years. Suddenly, she realized she had been living the model her parents taught her, but deep within, she understood this wasn’t who she truly is.  During her time at the Process, Cindy reclaimed her true self. Post-Process, Cindy integrated what she learned and began to trust this new relationship with her Spiritual Self. Now, through her work as a Hoffman Process teacher, she holds space for her students to do the same. Listen in to hear Cindy’s journey to learn how to stop wrestling and fighting so she could come to meet her life as it unfolds. Content Warning: This episode references child sexual abuse and may not be suitable for all audiences. Please use your discretion. Watch and listen to Cindy & Drew: https://youtu.be/-tG6xa3SMos Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify More about Cindy Murray: Cindy, doing what she loves Hoffman Process teacher, Cindy Murray, earned a Master of Clinical Social Work from Western Michigan University and is a graduate of the clinical training program in Analytical Psychotherapy from the CG Jung Institute of Chicago. Cindy's own Process was pivotal in her personal growth, leading her on the path of connection and presence. As a Hoffman Process teacher, she believes in helping students to further their own deep connection with themselves and to hold presence within themselves and in the world for those they love. Cindy also teaches in the Social Work Department at Western Michigan University and volunteers for the LoveYourBrain Foundation, which empowers people with brain injury and caregivers to feel more resilient, connected, and able to lead fulfilling lives. Originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan, Cindy currently lives in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, near the Hoffman Canadian retreat site. She enjoys hiking and skiing in the mountains and swimming in the glacial lakes as often as she can. As mentioned in this episode: Love Your Brain Foundation  

We learn about a new injectable microgel to help reduce bleeding in infants who require surgical care. In a mice model, it reduced bleeding by at least 50%. Ashley Brown, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at North Carolina State University and UNC Chapel Hill tells presenter Claudia Hammond more about this new material her team has designed.Joined by Professor of Global Health and Epidemiology at Boston University in the US, Dr Matthew Fox, Claudia hears about a mystery illness that is being investigated by health officials in Burundi, which has caused five deaths and sickened thirty-five people. So far lab analysis of the illness - which causes fever, vomiting, and diarrhoea - has been negative for Ebola and Marburg viruses, Rift Valley fever, and others.We hear about influential analysis from Cochrane which has concluded that "breakthrough" Alzheimer's drugs are unlikely to benefit patients. Researchers said the impact was "well below" what was needed to make a difference to dementia patients' lives. However, their report has also provoked a vicious backlash from equally esteemed scientists who label it as fundamentally flawed.We're joined by health journalist Katie Silver in Mexico, who brings us the news that the President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has announced the details of a plan to introduce universal healthcare – no mean feat in country of 130 million people.And we hear about an experiment that was done by academics to see if they could trick AI chatbots into believing in an entirely fake disease. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Jonathan Blackwell

Step inside five decades of rock history with lighting legend Howard Ungerleider, the man who’s been designing and directing Rush’s light shows since 1974. Hear how a $75-a-week mailroom gig at American Talent International — where he pulled off a rogue booking of Fleetwood Mac before he was even an agent — turned into a lifetime behind the console. Get the story of Howard landing in Toronto to babysit “a club band called Rush,” sleeping on the floor at the manager’s house with a St. Bernard, freezing his hand to a car door at -40 in Cochrane, Ontario, and later jamming with Neil Peart at his house to Genesis and Supertramp records. Howard also talks designing Roll The Bones (the one Rush tour he couldn’t operate), embedding at See Factor to build custom gear nobody else could get, and how Blue Öyster Cult first put him in front of a laser: the same craft he now brings to Foo Fighters, Tool, and Janet Jackson. Then the conversation turns to the upcoming Rush Fifty Something tour — a four-piece now with Anika Nilles on drums and Loren Gold on keys, freeing Geddy to focus on bass and vocals. Learn why Howard still “plays” the lighting console live with two boards and thousands of touch cues, how robotic spots are quietly changing the craft, and why he and Phish’s Chris Kuroda will be swapping rigs at Madison Square Garden. You’ll also hear the Paul McCartney moment in the Taylor Hawkins tribute dressing room that may have sparked the whole tour, and why Howard insists this is a rejuvenation, a celebration, and proof that no matter the rig, the room, or the era, you’ve gotta ALWAYS BE PERFORMING. Because it’s what we do. Press play and enjoy, folks. 00:00:00 Gig Gab 530 – Monday, April 20th, 2026 April 20th: Pizza Delivery Driver Appreciation Day Guest co-host: Howard Ungerleider 00:02:18 Walked into a NYC office to get a recording contract for his band “You need to learn about this industry before you come knocking on people's doors.” Introduced him to Action Talent (which became American Talent International) 00:06:21 For $75/week delivering coffee and working in the mailroom After a year and a half he got booted from Monmouth University, then became the ATI gopher 00:08:17 Hey, do you want Fleetwood Mac to play here? 00:11:44 Booking agent 00:13:17 Can you fill in for a week as Blue Oyster Cult's tour 00:14:51 Howard and Rush were surprised to have Howard working there “I need ten grand” – “no, you can sleep on the floor instead” 00:18:11 Howard had to show Geddy that New York pizza was better than Toronto pizza 00:19:01 Howard learns about Canadian cold Howard's driving, Geddy's riding shotgun, Neil's reading, Alex is smoking a joint 00:20:42 Geddy says, “get out and take a breath of fresh air” 00:22:05 John Rutsey had opted out of touring, Howard moves to Toronto while they're auditioning drummers “Eventually Neil [Peart] walked in…and that was it.” 00:23:32 Howard and Neil used to jam at Neil's house Genesis and Supertramp 00:24:19 Road life's not so bad 200 gigs a year on the road 00:26:09 Rush took a break, Howard did Queensryche and Tesla Howard designed Roll The Bones, but it's the only tour he couldn't operate 00:27:51 Howard tour-managed and lighting designed and operated every tour up through Presto, after which he dropped tour-managing 00:28:41 Dave realizes he met Howard on the Presto tour 00:31:43 Don't put up with crap 00:32:03 Howard's been doing Rush's lights since 1974 00:33:05 Moving from clubs and theaters to arenas Howard embedded himself into See Factor, the lighting company. Lots of custom gear 00:34:54 SPONSOR: Warby Parker – Right now, buy one prescription pair and get 20% off any additional prescription pairs at https://WarbyParker.com/GIGGAB 00:36:40 SPONSOR: Claude.ai – Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claude today, which includes access to Claude Cowork, too, when you visit https://Claude.ai/giggab 00:38:10 Howard first saw lasers with Blue Oyster Cult Dr. David Infante, Blue Oyster Cult's laser operator Howard's lasers on on the road with Foo Fighters, Tool, Janet Jackson and more 00:40:37 RUSH Fifty Something Something completely different than Howard has ever done Other dimensions 00:42:04 Mixing the Juno awards Howard says Neil would approve of Anika. 00:44:51 Hey Howard, surprise! RUSH is going to tour again 00:47:03 Howard did lights for RUSH at Taylor Hawkins tribute 00:48:46 Howard prefers mixing live He “plays” the lighting console live Remote spot locations 00:52:07 RUSH Fifty Something… it's band of FOUR. Geddy is happy… playing less keyboards, more bass and vocal focus 00:54:42 Howard: “I create lighting choreography” This tour is (currently) 2.5 hours (things can change, folks!) “I try to enhance the show with lighting that can trigger your emotions. I approach it as an audience member.” Loren Gold's harmonies sound great 00:58:28 Phish and Rush alternating at Madison Square Garden Chris Kuroda also mixes lights live 01:00:45 Howard's going to 85 dates We're here to create positivity, have a good time…and Neil Peart is smiling down 01:05:25 Brian Worthen on FOH 01:08:30 Gig Gab 530 Outtro Follow Howard Ungerleider Facebook Contact Gig Gab! @GigGabPodcast on Instagram feedback@giggabpodcast.com Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List The post 50 Years of Rush: Howard Ungerleider on Lighting the Lighted Stage – Gig Gab 530 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Pope Leo XIV's first Easter message, where he called for global peace amidst conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war and the US-Israeli war on Iran. The "messy" irony lies in the transition from a solemn papal address on world "ravaged by wars" to the interpersonal "messiness" and psychological pathology discussed in the following segments.   The Anti-Inflammatory Power of Basil Basil contains a high concentration of Eugenol. In the world of natural chemistry, Eugenol is a "blocker"—it actually works similarly to over-the-counter NSAIDs (like Ibuprofen) by inhibiting the enzymes (COX-2) that cause swelling and pain in the joint. How it adds to your Aloe-Herb Salve: Adding Basil creates a "Triple Threat" for your severe arthritis: Rosemary: Increases local circulation (brings blood flow to the joint). Lemon Balm: Calms the "angry" sensory nerves around the kneecap. Basil: Acts as the heavy-duty anti-inflammatory to reduce the actual swelling. Savoring the Silence & Protecting the Peace. You can't fix stupid, and you certainly can't fix a narcissist. But you can fix your boundaries. If every time you share a win, you get a grunt, stop sharing the win. Build your 'Silent Resort' and invite people who know how to celebrate. Your joy is too expensive to be spent on someone who is committed to being miserable. Protect that peace! Federation is a hard sci-fi crossover; it functions as a secular Passion play. It tells the story of a man (Cochrane) who suffers through a global apocalypse (WWIII), offers humanity "salvation" through the light of warp drive, disappears (dies to the world), and is ultimately "resurrected" through the grace of an alien entity and the legacy he leaves behind. The Bravo-verse: A Masterclass in Internalized Bias & Bozoma St. John, Gamer Recognized Game. I don't think I am kissing up, I am calling a spade a spade. And Boz St. John is calling 4-a possible- 5, yelling Domino, Uno Reverse-draw 4-Uno on those b@@@chs.      Just when I thought I was going to leave Reality TV commentary to the pros, here comes Ciara Miller and The Boz of it all....While the underfed hippos are snapping in the fake LA swamp, Bozoma is playing the Kobayashi Maru of the C-Suite. She didn't come to win the game; she came to audit the players and then unplug the board. Checkmate. Meeting Adjourned.   Check out my music on Spotify and Apple or wherever you listen to music! The official videos are on YouTube. Stream and stream often! Navigate to https://linktr.ee/tnfroisreading to check out all coffee and book options. Seasonal Affective Disorder Is Treatable and all of us should be about fixing our mental health always.... If you are searching for help and direction in your struggles with depression and addiction Call 1-800-273-8255 Available 24 hours everyday   There is also an online chat feature https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/   And if Vodka is the problem, call  1-800-662-HELP (4357) for 24/7 help. Please reach out to find joy in this season!

12. HEADLINE: Federal Reserve Policy and the Risks of Stagflation GUEST: John Cochrane SUMMARY: The Federal Reserve is adopting a "wait and see" approach to the current oil shock. Cochrane warns against repeating 1970s mistakes, such as credit controls or failing to act decisively against inflation. (12)1935 KHURMA KARIN

SHOW SCHEDULE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 4-1-2026.1602 DUTCH REPUBLIC1. HEADLINE: China's Strategic Role in Global and Middle Eastern Conflicts GUEST: Victoria Coates, Gordon Chang SUMMARY: Experts discuss China's strategic presence in global conflicts, including its reliance on Gulf oil and support for Russia. They analyze China's limited effectiveness as a mediator between the U.S. and Iran. (1)2. HEADLINE: Naval Lessons from the Strait of Hormuz for Taiwan's Defense GUEST: Jim Holmes, Gordon Chang SUMMARY: Professor Jim Holmes applies naval lessons from the Iran war to a potential Taiwan conflict. He emphasizes using geography for defense, prolonging wars to assemble forces, and utilizing low-cost drone technology. (2)3. HEADLINE: Investigating Subversive Chinese Influence and Funding in America GUEST: Charles Burton, Gordon Chang SUMMARY: Charles Burton discusses billionaire Neville Roy Singum's alleged role in funding radical organizations to subvert Western democracy. The discussion highlights China's use of social media algorithms and direct donations to influence youth. (3)4. HEADLINE: Concerns Over U.S.-China Trade Talks and Forced Labor Enforcement GUEST: Charles Burton, Gordon Chang SUMMARY: Analysts express skepticism regarding upcoming trade negotiations between President Trump and Xi Jinping. They also criticize Canada's failure to effectively block Chinese products manufactured using forced labor in Xinjiang. (4)5. HEADLINE: National Security Implications of the Chinese Humanoid Robotics Industry GUEST: Jack Bernham SUMMARY: Jack Bernham explores China's burgeoning humanoid robotics industry and its potential military applications. U.S. senators are moving to block Chinese robots from federal supply chains to prevent security vulnerabilities. (5)6. HEADLINE: Smuggling Operations Evading U.S. AI Chip Export Controls GUEST: Jack Bernham SUMMARY: An indictment reveals a massive operation smuggling $2.5 billion in Nvidia chips to China via Southeast Asia. Experts suggest closing loopholes that allow Chinese firms to purchase chips domestically. (6)7. HEADLINE: Turkey's Diplomatic Strategy as a Mediator in the Iran War GUEST: Sinan Ciddi SUMMARY: President Erdogan seeks to mediate a ceasefire in the Gulf to protect Turkey's weak economy from rising oil prices. However, he also benefits from a weakened Iranian regime countering Israel. (7)8. HEADLINE: Turkey's Patronage of Hamas and Regional Security Concerns GUEST: Sinan Ciddi SUMMARY: Turkey maintains close ties with Hamas leadership, viewing them as a legitimate political movement rather than terrorists. Rumors also suggest Turkey may be aiding the flow of supplies to Hezbollah. (8)9. HEADLINE: European Energy Dependency and the Shift Toward Russia GUEST: Michael Bernstam SUMMARY: Rising energy costs are driving political shifts in Germany and other EU nations toward re-engaging with Russian energy. Despite EU sanctions, Russia is profiting from increased oil prices during the Iran war. (9)10. HEADLINE: Russia's Struggling Economy Amid Prolonged War and Sanctions GUEST: Michael Bernstam SUMMARY: Russia faces a looming recession, high inflation, and a structural contraction due to reduced investment. The government has nationalized private pension funds to finance the war effort and infrastructure projects. (10)11. HEADLINE: The Impact of War and Oil Shocks on Global Interest Rates GUEST: John Cochrane SUMMARY: Professor John Cochrane explains how oil shocks and inflation fears drive up long-term bond rates. He warns that bad policy responses, like price caps, can turn price shocks into sustained inflation. (11)12. HEADLINE: Federal Reserve Policy and the Risks of Stagflation GUEST: John Cochrane SUMMARY: The Federal Reserve is adopting a "wait and see" approach to the current oil shock. Cochrane warns against repeating 1970s mistakes, such as credit controls or failing to act decisively against inflation. (12)13. HEADLINE: NASA's Artemis 2 Mission and the New Lunar Frontier GUEST: Douglas Messier, David Livingston SUMMARY: Douglas Messier details the upcoming Artemis 2 mission, the first crewed flight to the moon since 1972. The 10-day mission will test the Orion spacecraft's life support and technical systems. (13)14. HEADLINE: International Competition for a Permanent Base on the Moon GUEST: Douglas Messier, David Livingston SUMMARY: NASA plans to establish a permanent lunar base by 2036, facing competition from a joint Chinese-Russian program. Success relies on commercial landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin to reach the South Pole. (14)15. HEADLINE: Re-examining Russian Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election GUEST: Craig Unger SUMMARY: Journalist Craig Unger reviews the events of October 7, 2016, involving DHS warnings of Russian hacking and the release of the Access Hollywood tape. He argues the timing benefited the Trump campaign. (15)16. HEADLINE: Alleged Long-Term Financial Ties Between Trump and Russian Intelligence GUEST: Craig Unger SUMMARY: Craig Unger discusses alleged ties between Donald Trump and Russian intelligence dating back to the 1980s. He claims the Russian mafia used Trump real estate for money laundering to bail out his businesses. (16)

PREVIEW FOR LATER. Guest: John Cochrane. Cochrane discusses economic impacts of oil price shocks. He warns that political interference like price controls and taxes fails to increase supply, instead causing shortages, gas lines, and inefficient resource distribution. (1)XERXES THE FIRST OF PERSIA

Empowering Lives: Autism, Mental Health, and Healing with Dr. Cochrane In this episode Dr. Cochrane, a renowned psychologist with over three decades of experience. Together, they explore the challenges and strategies for addressing issues faced by neurodivergent individuals and those suffering from trauma. Dr. Cochrane shares her compassionate approach to cognitive behavioral therapy, the importance of self-regulation, and the power of gratitude practice. Through vivid examples, she illustrates the profound impact of vigilant parenting, therapy, and the critical distinction between feelings and facts. This powerful conversation underscores the importance of seeking help and fostering a profound understanding of autism and mental health. Meet Dr. Cochrane: A Renowned Psychologist Understanding Neurodivergence and Therapy Addressing Trauma and Emotional Regulation The Role of Coaching and Therapy Dealing with Psychosis and Severe Mental Health Issues Navigating Relationships and Communication Supporting Children and Teens The Power of Gratitude and Positive Mindset Conclusion and Final Thoughts INTRO/OUTRO: T. Wild Mantor Music BMI The content on Why Not Me: Embracing Autism amd Mental Health Worldwide, including discussions on mental health, autism, and related topics, is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not reflect those of the podcast, its hosts, or affiliates.Why Not Me is not a medical or mental health professional and does not endorse or verify the accuracy, efficacy, safety of any treatments, programs, or advice discussed.Listeners should consult qualified healthcare professionals, such as licensed therapists, psychologists, or physicians, before making decisions about mental health or autism- related care.Reliance on this podcast's contents is at the listener's own risk. Why Not Me is not liable for any outcomes, financial or otherwise, resulting from actions taken based on the information provided. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.